a big work in

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase 'a big work in' as used in isolation is not correct in written English.
It is likely that you meant to use 'a big work in progress'. Example: My team is currently working on a big work in progress.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is a big work in progress.

The New York Times

It's a big work, in three movements, lasting half an hour, and it's extremely clear, lean.

The New York Times - Arts

Owen Wingrave, based on a short story by Henry James with a pacifist moral, is a big work in every sense.

The Guardian - Music

But this is such a big work in scope and imagination, it might benefit from an even larger space.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The crew members -- seven in all, ages 46 to 82 -- gathered around a big work table in the basement near a stove where one pan held fried soupy.

The New York Times

The videos feature two colleagues named Ash and Emma prepping for a big work meeting in an elevator.

Huffington Post

I worked for Apple, worked for a big manufacturer, worked in private equity and then sort of had a mid-life crisis maybe?

The Guardian - Business

Ms. Torres is one of those chefs who manage to build a big reputation working in small places.

The New York Times - Food

So in down times, he is not as likely as the bigger contractors to have a big drop in work.

The New York Times

But the order systems are expensive to install and tricky to get right, involving a big change in work flow.

Forbes

If you have a big cut in work hours as your goal, you might not be able to accomplish it all at once.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Complete the phrase to "a big work in progress" to indicate that something is currently under development. For example: "Building the new headquarters is a big work in progress."

Common error

Avoid using "a big work in" without completing the phrase. It usually requires an ending like "progress", "development", or a noun that clarifies the context. For example, instead of saying "This project is a big work in", say "This project is a big work in progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big work in" functions as an incomplete noun phrase. It requires a completion to be grammatically correct and meaningful. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in the expression "a big work in progress".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a big work in" is grammatically incomplete and requires completion to be meaningful. The most common and correct form is "a big work in progress", which describes a significant project currently under development. Ludwig AI confirms that the isolated phrase is grammatically incorrect and suggests using the full phrase "a big work in progress". While the individual words are common, the specific sequence is less frequently encountered unless completed. Contexts where you might find this (completed) phrase are diverse but are common in News & Media and Academia. When using this phrase, remember to clarify the context by adding a noun or completing it with "progress".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large task in progress

Directly replaces "big" with "large" and keeps "in progress" to maintain the sense of an ongoing activity.

a substantial project underway

Emphasizes the considerable size and ongoing nature, using "substantial" instead of "big" and "underway" to highlight the progress.

a major undertaking in development

Highlights the significance of the task and its current developmental state by using "major undertaking" and "in development".

an extensive piece in the making

Focuses on the scale and the ongoing creation process. Uses "extensive piece" and "in the making" to convey a similar message.

a significant endeavor in motion

Highlights the importance and active progress by using "significant endeavor" and "in motion".

a considerable effort being developed

Focuses on the amount of effort required and its ongoing development by using "considerable effort" and "being developed".

a grand scheme in development

Emphasizes the ambitious nature and the ongoing development by using "grand scheme" and "in development".

a comprehensive study in the works

Highlights the thoroughness and the ongoing preparation. Uses "comprehensive study" and "in the works".

a massive operation underway

Highlights the immensity and the current activity by using "massive operation" and "underway".

a sweeping change in the pipeline

Focuses on the scale and the forthcoming nature of the change, using "sweeping change" and "in the pipeline".

FAQs

What does "a big work in progress" mean?

The phrase "a big work in progress" refers to a significant project or undertaking that is currently under development and not yet finished.

How can I use "a big work in progress" in a sentence?

You can use "a big work in progress" to describe any large project that is still being developed. For example: "The construction of the new bridge is "a big work in progress"." or "My new novel is "a big work in progress", but I'm making good headway."

What are some alternatives to "a big work in progress"?

Alternatives include "under development", "in the works", "still being developed", or "an ongoing project", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a big work in" without finishing the phrase?

No, it's generally not grammatically correct to say "a big work in" without completing the phrase with something like "progress", "development", or another relevant noun. Leaving it incomplete sounds awkward and doesn't convey a clear meaning.