working as a

USAGE SUMMARY

"working as a" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about a job or career that someone has. For example: "I'm working as a teacher at the local high school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's working as a mechanic.

The New York Times - Magazine

They were not working as a team.

The New York Times - Sports

Ringgold, working as a steward, was aboard.

The New York Times

He's working as a laborer.

The New Yorker

It's not working as a society.

University of California, Berkeley

You're working as a marketing assistant now.

University of California, Berkeley

Interested in working as a Freelance Consultant?

Yale University

You're working as a veterinary technician now.

University of California, Berkeley

I'm working as a graphic designer.

The New York Times

Knight is still working as a receptionist.

The Guardian

Currently working as a pharmacy clerk.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives like "employed as a" or "functioning as a" for slight variations in emphasis or formality.

Common error

Be specific about the role. Avoid vague descriptions. Instead of just saying "working as a consultant", specify the area of consulting, such as "working as a marketing consultant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working as a" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often used as an adverbial modifier to describe the manner or capacity in which someone is employed or active. It clarifies someone's current occupation or role, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

21%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "working as a" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that describes someone's current occupation or role. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including news, academia, and general conversation. While alternative phrases like "employed as a" or "functioning as a" can offer slight variations in meaning, "working as a" remains a clear and direct way to communicate someone's professional or functional engagement. When using this phrase, ensure you specify the role to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

employed as a

Replaces "working" with "employed", emphasizing the state of being hired for a position.

functioning as a

Focuses on the role or purpose being served, rather than the act of working.

serving as a

Highlights the act of providing a service or fulfilling a duty.

acting as a

Emphasizes a temporary or designated role.

engaged as a

Similar to "employed as a", but can also imply being actively involved.

holding a position as a

More formal and emphasizes the holding of an official job.

performing the role of a

Highlights the duties associated with the role.

practicing as a

Commonly used for professions like law or medicine, indicating active practice.

operating as a

Suggests a business or functional operation.

laboring as a

Implies manual or physical work.

FAQs

How can I use "working as a" in a sentence?

You can use "working as a" to describe someone's job or current role. For instance, "She is working as a software engineer" or "He's working as a volunteer at the local shelter".

What are some alternatives to "working as a"?

Alternatives include "employed as a", "functioning as a", "serving as a", or "acting as a", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "work as a" instead of "working as a"?

While "work as a" can be grammatically correct in some contexts (e.g., "I plan to work as a teacher"), "working as a" typically describes a current or ongoing situation. Using "work as a" implies a future or potential role.

What's the difference between "working as a" and "worked as a"?

"Working as a" refers to a present or continuous activity, while "worked as a" refers to a past activity. For example, "She is working as a nurse" (now) versus "She worked as a cashier last summer" (past).