a demanding work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a demanding work" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "demanding work" without the article "a." Example: "She found demanding work in the field of engineering that challenged her skills."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Philosophical stance aside, the Rorem is a demanding work.

The New York Times - Arts

He tells about the difficulties of performing Strauss's "Don Quixote", a demanding work.

The New Yorker

The opera did, however, enjoy outstanding popularity in Prague, and at the end of the year Mozart was invited to go to the Bohemian capital; he went in January 1787 and gave a new symphony there, the Prague (K 504), a demanding work that reflects his admiration for the capabilities of that city's musicians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With many workers putting in 80-plus hours per week and under constant stress, it can be difficult to balance a job search with a demanding work schedule.

BBC

This study shows that a demanding work environment together with minimal control and social support from colleagues results in increased stress that can often have an effect on patient safety.

Intensive and Critical Care Nursing

Who do you think will perform better in a demanding work environment after receiving such a gender-typed education?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Artifact Suite," set to the sublime Chaconne from Bach's "Partita No. 2 for solo violin in D minor," and to a piano score by Eva Crossman-Hecht, is a hugely demanding work for any company.

The New York Times - Arts

This study aimed to evaluate effects of moderate levels of low-frequency noise on attention, tiredness and motivation in a low demanding work situation.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Family caregivers often have what amounts to a full-time job and then some, providing more than 40 hours a week of demanding work, the report noted.

The New York Times - Health

I can't remember a more physically demanding work environment.

Huffington Post

'iCCM CHWs' reported that their additional training made them feel skilled and accomplished, despite it resulting in an increase in demanding work.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing effort, consider using 'demanding workload' or 'challenging task' instead of "a demanding work" for improved grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article 'a' before the noun "work" when 'demanding' is used as an adjective. The correct form is often 'demanding work', without the article.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions primarily as a descriptor, aiming to characterize a task or activity by emphasizing the high degree of effort, skill, or attention it requires. It's important to note that Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not considered to be correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a demanding work" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI suggests that it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The corrected form is "demanding work". The phrase seeks to describe the challenging nature of an activity, task or role, which is most often encountered in news, media and scientific contexts. When writing or speaking, consider alternatives such as "challenging task" or "difficult job" for improved clarity and grammatical precision. While the sources found might be authoritative, prioritizing grammatical correctness ensures clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging undertaking

Replaces 'work' with a synonym that implies a task needing skill and effort; changes adjective 'demanding' to 'challenging'.

difficult task

Substitutes 'work' with 'task', focusing on the challenging aspect.

laborious endeavor

Replaces 'work' with 'endeavor', which suggests a serious and prolonged effort. 'Laborious' is a strong synonym for 'demanding'.

taxing assignment

Uses 'assignment' instead of 'work', highlighting a specific task, and 'taxing' emphasizes the demanding nature.

arduous activity

Changes 'work' to 'activity' to signify it refers to physically or mentally exhaustive endeavors, using 'arduous' for 'demanding'.

strenuous job

Replaces 'work' with 'job' implying employment, with 'strenuous' indicating great effort or exertion.

exacting project

Uses 'project' instead of 'work,' suggesting a planned undertaking, and 'exacting' denotes a high standard of precision.

grueling occupation

Substitutes 'work' with 'occupation' to indicate long lasting work, 'grueling' to suggest an extreme level of exhaustion and effort.

complex undertaking

Replaces 'work' with 'undertaking', focuses on the complexity rather than difficulty.

challenging position

Implies the 'work' is an official 'position', emphasizes how hard it is.

FAQs

Is "a demanding work" grammatically correct?

While occasionally found, "a demanding work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to say "demanding work" or use alternatives like "challenging task" or "difficult job".

What are some alternatives to "a demanding work"?

Instead of "a demanding work", consider phrases like "challenging project", "difficult assignment", or simply "demanding work".

How can I use the phrase "demanding work" correctly in a sentence?

Use "demanding work" (without the article 'a') when describing a task or job that requires significant effort and skill. For example, "Engineering can be very demanding work".

What is the difference between "demanding work" and "a demanding job"?

"Demanding work" refers to the general concept of work that requires significant effort, while "a demanding job" refers to a specific position or employment that is demanding. The phrase "demanding job" is generally considered to be more grammatically sound.