worked for

USAGE SUMMARY

"worked for" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been achieved through effort or activity. For example: "It took a lot of hard work, but eventually I achieved my goal of getting a job in public relations, and now I'm working for a great company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nothing worked for us.

Independent

"That worked for me.

The New Yorker

It worked for me.

The New York Times

It worked for her.

The New York Times - Books

Another worked for Apple.

The New York Times - Sports

We worked for this.

The New Yorker

It worked for us.

The New York Times

He worked for Pres.

The New Yorker

This technique worked for me.

Independent

Michelle Obama worked for Jarrett.

The New Yorker

This has worked for salt.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "worked for", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to employment, effectiveness, or a more general contribution. This prevents ambiguity and ensures your intended meaning is accurately conveyed.

Common error

Avoid using "worked for" in situations where a more specific verb would be more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The strategy worked for us", consider "The strategy benefited us" or "The strategy proved successful for us" to provide greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked for" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating employment, service, or effectiveness. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples, where it's used to describe someone's job ("He worked for the state") or the success of a method ("It worked for me").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "worked for" is a versatile expression used to convey employment, effectiveness, or general contribution. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically sound and predominantly found in news and media contexts. When using "worked for", ensure the context clearly indicates your intended meaning to avoid ambiguity. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to consider the specific context to determine if a more formal or specific alternative would enhance clarity. With its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and BBC, mastering the usage of "worked for" is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was employed by

Focuses specifically on the employment aspect, replacing the general "worked" with a formal term.

was in the service of

Implies a formal or dedicated service to an organization or person.

contributed to

Emphasizes the aspect of making a contribution rather than direct employment.

was effective for

Shifts the focus to the effectiveness of something, rather than a person's work.

proved successful for

Highlights the success or positive outcome resulting from an action or strategy.

yielded results for

Focuses on the generation of specific results or outcomes.

was instrumental in

Implies that something played a crucial role in achieving a certain result.

served

A more general term indicating service or contribution, suitable in many contexts where "worked for" might be used.

labored for

Highlights the effort and labor involved, rather than just the act of working.

toiled for

Similar to "labored for", emphasizes hard work and dedication over a period of time.

FAQs

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

You can use "worked for" to indicate employment, as in "She "worked for" a non-profit organization". It can also mean something was effective, such as "The new marketing strategy "worked for" the company".

What's a more formal way to say "worked for"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "was employed by" or "was in the service of" instead of ""worked for"".

Can "worked for" imply something was successful?

Yes, ""worked for"" can imply success or effectiveness. For example, "The solution "worked for" the problem" suggests the solution was successful in resolving the issue.

What are some common alternatives to using "worked for" when describing employment?

Instead of saying someone ""worked for"" a company, you could say they "were employed by", "were a staff of", or "held a position at" depending on the context.