a mammoth project

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mammoth project" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a project that is very large, complex, or ambitious in scope. Example: "The construction of the new bridge is a mammoth project that will take several years to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is a mammoth project.

The Economist

In the past five years he has photographed in 40 Chinese cities and recently completed a mammoth project, "The New Face of the Cities of China".

The New York Times

South Korea has opened Inchon International Airport, a mammoth project 32 miles west of downtown Seoul that has replaced Kimpo Airport for virtually all foreign flights.

The New York Times - Travel

The buzz comes largely on the heels of the Catskill Mill, a mammoth project that provides woodworkers, ceramacists and other artisans with well-equipped spaces to practice their crafts.

The New York Times - Travel

"We haven't been able to find out who she is yet," admitted Andy Ellis of the Public Catalogue Foundation [PCF], apart from her being the last artist to join what has been a mammoth project.

The Guardian - Arts

Between 1936 and 1944, some twenty volumes of Kierkegaard's writings appeared in new English translations, a mammoth project overseen by an Episcopalian minister from Philadelphia named Walter Lowrie, who had learned Danish at the age of sixty-four in order to read Kierkegaard in the original.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Such a project would be a mammoth undertaking, requiring improvements in technology for imaging the living brain as well as the most advanced electron microscopy.

The Washington Post

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume said completing the project would be a "mammoth task" that was necessary and should be done as quickly as possible.

BBC

Selita Ebanks. A. Taking on this project has been a mammoth undertaking as well as a learning experience for me and my team!

Huffington Post

A nationwide search for a scholar to edit the mammoth project recently ended in Silver Lake, where the commission found Arthur Wertheim, a history writer whose professional focus had already been narrowing around the milieu of the beloved humorist and entertainer.

Los Angeles Times

He wants to get back to his quiet office and start writing up the mammoth project, a task which will take years.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a mammoth project", ensure the context clearly establishes the large scale and significant resources required for the project. This sets the appropriate tone and expectations for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "a mammoth project" to describe tasks that are only moderately challenging or large. Overuse can dilute the impact and credibility of the phrase, making it seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mammoth project" functions as a noun phrase, where "mammoth" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "project". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, with examples showing its use to describe large and complex undertakings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mammoth project" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe undertakings of significant scale and complexity. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase with "mammoth" acting as a descriptive adjective. While adaptable to various contexts, it is frequently found in news and media, with secondary occurrences in academic and scientific writing. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "a colossal undertaking" or "a gigantic endeavor" to achieve similar emphasis. Remember to employ the phrase thoughtfully, reserving it for genuinely substantial endeavors to maintain its impact and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a colossal undertaking

Replaces "mammoth" with "colossal," emphasizing immense size, but retains the noun "undertaking."

a gigantic endeavor

Substitutes "mammoth" with "gigantic," highlighting great size and substitutes "project" with the synonym "endeavor."

a substantial enterprise

Replaces "mammoth" with "substantial," denoting considerable size and "project" with "enterprise," implying a significant undertaking.

a herculean task

Replaces "mammoth" with "herculean," indicating a task requiring immense strength or effort and "project" with "task."

a monumental effort

Substitutes "mammoth" with "monumental," highlighting impressiveness and "project" with "effort," focusing on the required exertion.

an extensive operation

Replaces "mammoth" with "extensive," emphasizing wide scope, and substitutes "project" with "operation," suggesting a planned activity.

a sweeping initiative

Replaces "mammoth" with "sweeping," denoting broad scope, and substitutes "project" with "initiative," implying a new endeavor.

an ambitious undertaking

Replaces "mammoth" with "ambitious," emphasizing the high goals, and retains "undertaking" as a synonym for project.

a large-scale scheme

Replaces "mammoth" with "large-scale," indicating size, and substitutes "project" with "scheme," implying a detailed plan.

a complex assignment

Replaces "mammoth" with "complex," denoting intricacy, and substitutes "project" with "assignment," implying a specific task.

FAQs

How can I use "a mammoth project" in a sentence?

You can use "a mammoth project" to describe an endeavor that is extremely large, complex, and requires significant resources. For example, "The construction of the new international airport is "a mammoth project" that will take several years."

What can I say instead of "a mammoth project"?

You can use alternatives like "a colossal undertaking", "a gigantic endeavor", or "a substantial enterprise depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a mammoth project" in formal writing?

Yes, "a mammoth project" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when emphasizing the scale and complexity of the project. However, consider alternatives like "a substantial enterprise" or "an extensive operation" for a more nuanced tone.

What differentiates "a mammoth project" from "a big project"?

"A mammoth project" implies not only a large size but also significant complexity and resource requirements, setting it apart from a simply "big project", which may only refer to size. The term "mammoth" adds emphasis to the scale and challenge involved.