a great undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a great undertaking" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is used to refer to something that is difficult or challenging to do. For example, "Completing a marathon is a great undertaking and requires months of training and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"The procedure of getting him ready was a great undertaking".

The New York Times

The neglected youngest child, Smudge, plots a Great Undertaking in her bedroom.

The Guardian - Books

Jeff and Jacob, you guys are amazingly brave for tackling such a great undertaking.

TechCrunch

All the ideas are there, it's just such a great undertaking.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is here that ability counts and that character counts, and it is on these that a newspaper, like every great undertaking, if it is to be worthy of its power and duty, must rely.

The Guardian - Opinion

But I can't help wondering whether the threefold vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience aren't a far greater undertaking for a woman yet to hit 30.

Vice

But I can't help but wonder whether the threefold vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience aren't a far greater undertaking for a woman yet to hit 30.

Vice

But I can't help but wonder whether the threefold vows of poverty, chastity and obedience aren't a far greater undertaking for a woman yet to hit 30.

Vice

Leonello inspired a great humanistic undertaking as well as a mode of artistic practice on Alberti's part by urging him to restore the classic text of Vitruvius, architect and architectural theorist of the age of the Roman emperor Augustus.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Szwed's exhaustive biography illustrates in some detail the reasons for Lomax's importance while sometimes sidestepping the problematic nature of his great undertaking, and the often-compromising ways in which he pursued it.

The Guardian - Music

In the 1880s, the initiator of this great undertaking, Georg Wenker, composed 40 test sentences that illustrated most of the important ways in which dialects differed and sent them to schoolmasters in over 40,000 places in the German Empire.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a great undertaking" to emphasize the significance and challenge of a task or project. It conveys a sense of importance and the need for considerable effort and resources.

Common error

Avoid using "a great undertaking" for simple, everyday tasks. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the effort truly merits the description. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great undertaking" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a task, project, or mission that is significant in size, scope, or difficulty. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great undertaking" is a noun phrase used to describe a significant project or task that requires considerable effort and resources. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness for formal and neutral registers. While the phrase appears across diverse sources, its use is relatively rare, best reserved for situations where the scale and challenge truly merit the description. Related phrases such as ""a major endeavor"" and ""a significant project"" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major endeavor

Emphasizes the scale and importance of the project.

a significant project

Focuses on the importance and impact of the project.

a considerable task

Highlights the amount of work and effort required.

an ambitious plan

Stresses the high goals and aspirations of the project.

a challenging mission

Emphasizes the difficulty and obstacles involved.

a formidable challenge

Highlights the difficulty and potential obstacles to overcome.

a complex operation

Focuses on the intricate and multifaceted nature of the activity.

an important venture

Stresses the significance and potential risks involved.

a Herculean task

Implies immense effort and strength required, referencing the labors of Hercules.

a vast enterprise

Emphasizes the scale and organizational complexity involved.

FAQs

How can I use "a great undertaking" in a sentence?

Use "a great undertaking" to describe a project or task that is large in scope, requires significant effort, and presents considerable challenges. For example, "Building a new bridge is "a great undertaking" that requires careful planning and execution".

What are some alternatives to "a great undertaking"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a major endeavor", "a significant project", or "a formidable challenge" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a great undertaking" in formal writing?

Yes, "a great undertaking" is suitable for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and conveys a sense of importance and challenge in a professional or academic context.

What makes "a great undertaking" different from a simple task?

The phrase "a great undertaking" implies a level of complexity, scale, and required effort that goes beyond that of a routine task. It suggests that the project requires careful planning, resources, and perseverance to achieve success.