while he was in office

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while he was in office" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to actions or events that occurred during someone's term in a position of authority, typically in government. Example: "The economy improved significantly while he was in office, leading to increased public approval."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Crime worsened while he was in office.

The Economist

While he was in office, great strides were made.

The New York Times

Musharraf survived multiple assassination attempts while he was in office.

The Guardian

He said phone hacking was "evidently going on" while he was in office.

Independent

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation three times while he was in office.

The New York Times

Mr. Ashcroft had opposed the longer background-check retention period while he was in office.

The New York Times

While he was in office, Obama had a basketball court installed at the White House.

The Washington Post

Duvlier consistently denied any responsibility for abuses committed while he was in office.

The Guardian

While he was in office, the government financed a lavish refurbishment of his family's glittering shrine in central Multan.

The New York Times

Al Ahram had been run by Mubarak loyalists while he was in office, but its management changed after Egypt's uprising.

The New York Times

Mr. Clinton, who failed to secure a health care overhaul while he was in office, has accepted the challenge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "while he was in office", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific office or position being referenced, especially if the individual held multiple roles during their career. This avoids ambiguity and enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using future tense when discussing actions that occurred "while he was in office". The phrase refers to a past period, so ensure all related verbs are in the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while he was in office" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the time period during which the action described by the verb took place. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "while he was in office" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to provide temporal context. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various writing contexts but appears most frequently in News & Media. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the office and avoid future tense verbs to maintain accuracy. Related phrases such as "during his tenure" and "throughout his administration" can offer variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during his time in office

Replaces 'while' with 'during' and uses 'time' to slightly rephrase the temporal aspect.

during his term of office

Substitutes 'time' for 'term', emphasizing the official duration of the position.

throughout his tenure

Uses 'tenure' for a more formal tone, indicating the period someone holds a position.

during his administration

Replaces 'office' with 'administration', particularly suitable when referring to a leader.

in his time as head of state

Specifies the role (head of state) and replaces 'office' with a more descriptive phrase.

while he held the position

Rephrases 'was in office' more generally, applicable to various types of positions.

in the period he governed

Emphasizes the act of governing during the specified time frame.

during his mandate

Uses 'mandate' to refer to the period of authority granted to the person.

as long as he was in charge

Focuses on the period of responsibility and control held by the person.

whilst he occupied the office

More formal and slightly archaic alternative, replacing 'was in' with 'occupied'.

FAQs

How do I use "while he was in office" in a sentence?

Use "while he was in office" to describe events or actions that occurred during someone's term in a specific position. For example, "The city's infrastructure improved significantly "while he was in office"." Make sure the tense of the verb agrees with the past time frame.

What can I say instead of "while he was in office"?

You can use alternatives like "during his tenure", "during his term of office", or "throughout his administration" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "during he was in office"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""while he was in office"" or "during his time in office". The word 'while' functions as a conjunction introducing a clause that occurs simultaneously with the main action.

What's the difference between "while he was in office" and "after he left office"?

"While he was in office" refers to actions or events that happened during his active term. "After he left office" describes events that occurred once his term had concluded and he was no longer holding the position.