a laborious undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a laborious undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or project that requires a significant amount of effort, time, and hard work to complete. Example: "The construction of the new bridge was a laborious undertaking that took several years to finish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The home visits are a laborious undertaking that demands a healthy dose of patience and dexterity to fulfill its most basic requirement: finding the students.

The New York Times

Next, the brothers describe the working process behind one of their infamous Hellscapes, a laborious undertaking that can take up to six months to make.

BBC

However, developing and updating a finite element model is usually a laborious undertaking, and its success strongly depends on the spatial density of measurements.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

For five genes there is extensive evidence of causality but screening all five of them for diagnostic or research purposes is a laborious undertaking.

Human Mutation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For this slow-moving mammal, the journey is a dangerous and laborious undertaking, but it is one of great importance to members of the community among and aboard the sloth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The laborious undertaking missed its first deadline to finally arrive, late, on March 30.

Vice

However, finding these locations within the genome can be a laborious and expensive undertaking requiring site specific assays.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Building a whole new state-of-the-art network is a laborious and expensive process that Verizon says it must undertake to fend off rivals like Comcast and Vonage, which are moving fast into the phone business.

The New York Times - Tech

"It is a laborious business.

The Guardian

It is a laborious process.

The New Yorker

This was a laborious process.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a laborious undertaking", ensure the context clearly establishes the significant time, effort, and difficulty involved. Avoid using it for tasks that are merely routine or simple.

Common error

Avoid using "a laborious undertaking" to describe tasks that are only mildly challenging. Reserve this phrase for situations where the effort is genuinely substantial and protracted, ensuring the description aligns with the actual difficulty of the task.

Linguistic Context

Noun phrase. It functions as a subject complement or object complement, describing the nature of a task or project. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. The phrase adds emphasis to the effort required, suggesting a considerable amount of work involved, based on examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a laborious undertaking" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to describe tasks or projects that demand significant effort, time, and dedication. Ludwig AI validates the correctness of this phrase and suggests it appears in contexts ranging from news and media to scientific publications and encyclopedias, as per examples above. While the phrase isn't exceptionally common, it effectively emphasizes the demanding nature of the described work. When using this expression, consider the specific context and the intended emphasis, and ensure it accurately reflects the level of effort involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a strenuous endeavor

Replaces "undertaking" with "endeavor" and "laborious" with "strenuous", emphasizing the demanding physical or mental effort involved.

a demanding task

Focuses on the challenging nature of the work, using the more common term "task" instead of "undertaking".

an arduous assignment

Highlights the difficulty and tiresomeness of the job, replacing "laborious" with "arduous" and "undertaking" with "assignment".

a challenging project

Emphasizes the stimulating and testing aspects of the work, using "challenging" instead of "laborious" and "project" instead of "undertaking".

a toilsome effort

Stresses the extensive and exhausting work involved, using the less common word "toilsome".

a difficult job

Uses simpler and more direct language to convey the same meaning, focusing on the problematic nature of the work.

a painstaking process

Highlights the need for thoroughness and careful attention to detail, differing slightly in focus from mere effort.

a Herculean task

Emphasizes the immense difficulty and strength required, referencing the mythological hero Hercules.

an uphill battle

Conveys the idea of continuous struggle and resistance, rather than just hard work.

a complex operation

Focuses on the intricate and multifaceted nature of the work, rather than the effort required.

FAQs

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

Use "a laborious undertaking" to describe a task or project that requires considerable effort and time, such as "The restoration of the ancient manuscript was "a laborious undertaking" that demanded years of research and meticulous work".

What are some alternatives to "a laborious undertaking"?

You can use alternatives such as "a demanding task", "an arduous assignment", or "a challenging project" depending on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

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

"A laborious undertaking" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, although it might sound slightly more formal than simpler alternatives like "a difficult job". The choice depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.

What is the difference between "a laborious undertaking" and "a difficult undertaking"?

While both phrases describe challenging tasks, "a laborious undertaking" specifically emphasizes the amount of effort and time required, whereas "a difficult undertaking" focuses more on the inherent complexity or obstacles involved.