a lot of working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lot of working" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "a lot of work" when referring to a large amount of effort or tasks. Example: "There is a lot of work to be done before the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"You got a lot of working people, working-class folks, some people have to piece together three to four jobs, why wouldn't we have extended hours and extended days?" The question ultimately answers itself.

Huffington Post

"This is going to take a lot of working out".

The New York Times

But there was a huge physical transformation for me — a lot of working out, dieting.

The New York Times

It took a lot of working on those issues between the two of us".

The New York Times

That has made a lot of working adults think twice about going back to school.

The New York Times

(Although there is a lot of working going on for a Saturday, I must say).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

There are a lot of working-class people from ethnic minorities who work long hours and all different shifts, but I can assure you that most would prefer to spend more time with their families.

The Guardian

Although, now that I think about it, the Iowa caucus basically excludes people who work nights (which cuts out a lot of working-class Iowans) and who have to take care of young children (which cuts out a lot of parents... probably mostly women at that).

Huffington Post

It was a lot of working-class people.

The New York Times

A lot of working-class Scottish writers get into that self-flagellation thing.

Independent

"Like a lot of working-class people, my father had only contempt and dread of it".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a large quantity of tasks or effort, use "a lot of work" instead of "a lot of working". For example, say "There's a lot of work to be done".

Common error

Avoid using "working" as a noun to describe a quantity. Using "work" as the noun is grammatically preferable. For instance, instead of "That requires a lot of working", say "That requires a lot of work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lot of working" functions as a noun phrase intending to quantify effort or labor. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect in standard written English; "a lot of work" is the preferred form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

31%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a lot of working" appears frequently in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect in standard written English. The correct and more accepted form is "a lot of work" when referring to a large amount of effort or tasks. Although the phrase is used across different contexts, including news and media, science, and even some informal settings, it is recommended to use the grammatically correct alternative, "a lot of work", especially in formal or professional writing. Other alternatives include "a great deal of work", "considerable effort", and "significant labor".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great deal of work

Replaces "a lot of" with "a great deal of" emphasizing the quantity of work.

considerable effort

Focuses on the effort involved rather than the sheer amount of work.

significant labor

Emphasizes the physical or strenuous aspect of the work.

extensive activity

Highlights a broad range of actions and tasks being performed.

substantial exertion

Stresses the energy and effort expended during the working process.

ample working time

Focuses on the time dedicated to working, rather than the volume of work itself.

numerous working hours

Similar to the previous, emphasizing the quantity of hours spent working.

a mountain of work

Uses a metaphor to illustrate a large amount of work, implying it's overwhelming.

a heavy workload

Focuses on the amount of work someone is responsible for.

a vast undertaking

Implies a large and complex project that involves a significant amount of work.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a lot of working"?

The correct way to phrase this is "a lot of "work"". "Working" is typically a verb or adjective, while "work" serves as the noun in this context.

Can I use "working" after "a lot of" in any context?

Yes, but only when "working" functions as an adjective. For example, "a lot of working parents" is correct because "working" describes the parents. However, to refer to the amount of labor, "a lot of "work"" is more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to "a lot of work"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a great deal of "work"", "substantial "effort"", or "considerable "labor"".

Is "a lot of working" ever acceptable in formal writing?

No, "a lot of "work"" is the standard and more formal way to express a large quantity of labor or tasks. Using "a lot of working" is generally considered grammatically incorrect.