a laborious effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a laborious effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or undertaking that requires a significant amount of hard work and effort. Example: "Completing the project on time was a laborious effort, but the team managed to pull it off successfully."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was also a laborious effort to peck out notes on its tiny keyboard.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What was a long, mostly manual, laborious effort to learn about the strengths and flaws of a business now can happen in just days.

Forbes

The CC will enable a so-called systems genetics approach, as opposed to the traditional, laborious effort to identify one gene at a time.

Environmental Health Perspectives

On the contrary, this long and laborious effort was part of a more prolonged ritual use and consumption, which would have involved the deterioration of the outermost layer of the coating.

Heritage Science

The laborious effort was captured by bystanders' photos, which are now part of a lawsuit filed by Bulent Ezal and his son against Toyota.

Los Angeles Times

He'd had one lovely, fluky success, but laborious effort had failed to produce anything further.

The New York Times - Books

This brought its own kind of ecstatic rituals: "Adventure and trepidation," as Boettger described it, when "the relief of locating this massive sculpture mixes with awe at the immensity of both its dimensions and the evidence of the laborious effort that produced it".

The New York Times - Books

Notwithstanding the tremendous progress made in the exploration of the Earth's deep structure during the first half of the 20th century, realization of this goal was severely limited until the 1960s because of the laborious effort required to evaluate theoretical models and to process the large amounts of earthquake data recorded.

Encyclopedia Britannica

23, 24, 26 Probably, part of this increase in time is caused by the relatively laborious effort to change robotic instruments and to the limited experience with robotic surgery at this moment.

Diseases of the Colon and Rectum

Using E-Surveillance, we could determine the prevalence of antibiotic drugs in a shorter time period than other methods, circumventing laborious efforts of the inspection and collection of data on the wards [ 7, 16].

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

The effort to police such a proposal, even if Syria agreed, would be a laborious and prolonged effort, especially since Mr. Assad's government has shrouded its arsenal in secrecy for decades.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a laborious effort" to describe processes or tasks that demand significant time, energy, and dedication. It is suitable when emphasizing the extent of work involved.

Common error

Avoid using "laborious effort" to describe simple tasks. Its formal tone is best reserved for situations requiring substantial and noticeable exertion. Consider more straightforward synonyms like "hard work" or "great effort" for less demanding scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a laborious effort" functions as a noun phrase, where 'laborious' modifies 'effort', indicating the intensity or difficulty involved. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a laborious effort" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe tasks requiring significant exertion. As Ludwig confirms, its versatility allows for use across various domains. While applicable in formal and neutral registers, avoid overuse in casual contexts. Alternatives like ""a strenuous endeavor"" or ""an arduous task"" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings. Remembering to reserve it for appropriate scenarios will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a strenuous endeavor

Emphasizes the demanding and energy-intensive nature of the undertaking.

an arduous task

Highlights the difficulty and challenge involved in the task.

a painstaking process

Focuses on the meticulous care and attention required.

a demanding undertaking

Stresses the high requirements and expectations of the task.

a challenging endeavor

Emphasizes the difficulty and the need to overcome obstacles.

a toilsome undertaking

Highlights the exhausting and prolonged nature of the effort.

a backbreaking task

Stresses the physically demanding aspect of the work.

a Herculean effort

Refers to an effort requiring immense strength, courage, or size.

a time-consuming activity

Focuses on the extensive time commitment required.

an energy-sapping activity

Highlights the depleting effect on one's energy levels.

FAQs

How can I use "a laborious effort" in a sentence?

You can use "a laborious effort" to describe any task that requires a lot of time and energy, such as, "Completing the research paper was "a laborious effort", but the results were rewarding."

What can I say instead of "a laborious effort"?

Alternatives include "a strenuous endeavor", "an arduous task", or "a challenging endeavor", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a laborious effort"?

Use "a laborious effort" when emphasizing the significant amount of work, time, and dedication required for a particular task. It's particularly fitting when the task is complex or demanding.

Is "a laborious effort" formal or informal?

The phrase "a laborious effort" leans towards the formal side. For more informal contexts, consider simpler alternatives like "hard work" or "great effort".