worked as a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worked as a" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone had a job in a particular field. For example: "He worked as a computer programmer for 15 years before taking a break from the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Each worked as a prostitute.

The New York Times - Books

I worked as a model.

The New Yorker

We worked as a team.

The New York Times

I worked as a mover.

The New York Times

She worked as a journalist.

The New York Times

His father worked as a headmaster.

The New Yorker

She once worked as a screenwriter".

The New York Times - Arts

He worked as a personal trainer.

The New York Times

It worked as a concert piece.

The New York Times - Arts

Mother Dionesia worked as a roadside trader.

Independent

You also worked as a journalist.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's past work experience, use "worked as a" followed by the specific job title or role. This provides clear and concise information about their professional background.

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" or "an" before the job title when using "worked as a". For example, it should be "worked as a teacher", not "worked as teacher".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked as a" functions as a verbal phrase indicating past employment or occupational history. It connects an individual to a specific role or profession they previously held, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "worked as a" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for describing past employment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and appropriate for indicating a prior role or job. Predominantly found in News & Media, it is also present in Wiki and Encyclopedias. When using "worked as a", ensure the correct article (a/an) precedes the job title and that it aligns with the intended meaning of describing past employment. Remember, alternatives like "was employed as a" or "served as a" can be used for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held a position as

Focuses on the formal holding of a job or role.

was employed as a

Emphasizes the state of being employed in a particular role.

served as a

Implies a more formal or official role.

functioned as a

Highlights the duties and responsibilities of a role.

had a job as a

A more casual way of describing past employment.

spent time as a

Focuses on the duration spent in a particular role.

practiced as a

Typically used for professions requiring specific qualifications.

used to work as a

Indicates a past occupation, often no longer held.

previously worked as a

Highlights that the job was held before the current one.

my former role was

Indicates the previous role in a professional context.

FAQs

How do I properly use "worked as a" in a sentence?

Use "worked as a" to describe a past occupation or role, followed by the specific job title. For example, "She "worked as a nurse"" or "He "worked as a software engineer"".

What are some alternatives to saying "worked as a"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was employed as a", "served as a", or "held a position as".

Is it correct to say "worked like a" instead of "worked as a"?

No, "worked like a" has a different meaning. "Worked as a" indicates a specific job or role, while "worked like a" compares the manner of working to something else. For example, "He worked like a machine" means he worked tirelessly.

What's the difference between "worked as a" and "used to work as a"?

"Worked as a" describes a past job without specifying if it's ongoing or not. "Used to work as a" /s/used+to+work+as explicitly indicates that the job is no longer held.