a good work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a good work" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "good work" when referring to the quality of a task or effort. Example: "She did a good work on the project, impressing everyone with her attention to detail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Thank you for a good work done.

Columbia University

Do they have a good work ethic?

The New York Times - Sports

The work was a good work.

The New York Times - Sports

A good work ethic is key.

The Guardian

We have a good work ethic, too".

The New York Times

In a good work the brothers well 3,000 heads.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

This allows for ample down time and a good work-life balance.

Cornell University

Do they seem to have a good work-family balance in their own lives?

Harvard Business Review

"So it was a good work-out that way.

BBC

It was a good work-out and I hope we'll see a lot more of them.

BBC

Q: Has it been hard to maintain a good work-life balance?

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In most contexts, omitting the article "a" and simply using "good work" is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Use "good work" for direct praise or commendation.

Common error

Avoid placing "a" before adjective-noun combinations like "good work" when giving direct feedback or generalized praise. Stick to "good work" unless you are referring to a specific instance or type of work, such as "a good piece of work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is typically used as an expression of approval or commendation. It functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "work". While prevalent, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the omission of the article 'a' for standard usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

22%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a good work" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The standard and more accepted form is "good work", which omits the article "a". This phrase generally functions as an expression of approval or commendation. It is used across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia and Wiki. To convey similar meaning, alternatives like "excellent job" or "commendable effort" may be used, depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good work

Removes the article "a" to achieve grammatical correctness while retaining the core meaning.

a fine piece of work

Replaces "good" with "fine" and adds "piece of" to emphasize the quality of the work.

a commendable effort

Substitutes "work" with "effort" and "good" with "commendable", highlighting the praiseworthy nature of the undertaking.

a job well done

Replaces "work" with "job" and uses the idiom "well done" to express satisfaction with the completed task.

an excellent job

Emphasizes the high quality of the work performed by using the adjective "excellent".

a great accomplishment

Focuses on the successful completion and achievement of the work.

a remarkable achievement

Highlights the outstanding and noteworthy nature of the accomplishment.

satisfactory performance

Replaces "work" with "performance" and "good" with "satisfactory", indicating that the work meets the required standards.

a solid performance

Indicates that the work was reliable and of a consistent quality.

a valuable contribution

Highlights the importance and benefit of the work to a larger effort.

FAQs

How can I use "good work" in a sentence?

You can use "good work" to express approval or satisfaction with someone's effort or achievement. For example: "Good work on the presentation!" or "That was good work, everyone."

What's a more formal way to say "good work"?

Alternatives to "good work" in formal settings include phrases like "excellent job", "commendable effort", or "satisfactory performance".

Is it ever correct to say "a good work"?

While less common, "a good work" can be used when referring to a specific instance or type of work, particularly when emphasizing its nature or quality. For example, "This is a good work for demonstrating dedication."

What is the difference between saying "good work" and "a good job"?

"Good work" is a general expression of approval, while "a good job" refers to a specific task or assignment that was well executed. "Good work" is more general, whereas "a good job" implies a specific accomplishment.