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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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worked by

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"worked by" is a perfectly valid and acceptable phrase in written English.
Example: The factory was worked by a team of skilled mechanics.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Martin worked by theory, Denniz by feel.

News & Media

The New Yorker

They worked by dim portable electric lights.

News & Media

The New York Times

Flurizan worked by interfering with that enzyme.

News & Media

The New York Times

It worked by creating a severe yet localized artificial earthquake.

News & Media

Independent

Hours worked by elderly people increased in both regions.

News & Media

The New York Times

But Cameron, as Cox notes, worked by "embracing accidents".

News & Media

The New Yorker

The cartels worked by bribing police, politicians and judges.

News & Media

The New York Times

"Usually I worked by myself, especially on domestic stories.

News & Media

The New York Times

The software worked by using dial-up connections.

News & Media

The New York Times

At first, the process worked by word of mouth.

News & Media

The New York Times

But the southern facade had to be worked by hand.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "worked by" to clearly indicate the agent or method responsible for a particular action or result. This phrasing is effective in both technical and general contexts.

Common error

Avoid overusing "worked by" in passive voice when an active voice would be more direct and concise. For instance, instead of "The problem was worked by the team", consider "The team solved the problem."

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked by" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, often used in passive constructions to indicate the agent or mechanism performing an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and widely used expression across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

27%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

10%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worked by" is a versatile prepositional phrase that effectively indicates agency or means in various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. Its presence across diverse sources, from news to encyclopedias, highlights its utility. When using "worked by", it's beneficial to consider the alternatives like "operated by" or "managed by" for nuanced expression. However, beware of overuse in passive constructions where a more direct active voice might be preferable. As seen from the analysis, the phrase's utility and clear meaning make it a valuable tool in both formal and informal communication.

FAQs

How can I use "worked by" in a sentence?

"Worked by" is used to indicate who or what is performing an action or how something functions. For instance, "The project was worked by a dedicated team" or "The system worked by using a complex algorithm".

What are some alternatives to "worked by"?

Alternatives include "operated by", "run by", "managed by", or "controlled by", depending on the specific context.

Is "worked by" formal or informal?

"Worked by" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. Its suitability depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.

What is the difference between "worked by" and "working with"?

"Worked by" indicates the means by which something is done, or the agent performing the action. "Working with", on the other hand, suggests collaboration or using something as a tool. For instance, a machine is "worked by" an operator, but the operator is "working with" the machine.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: