a serious task

USAGE SUMMARY

"a serious task" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a task that is important, difficult, or requires a lot of focus and effort. Example: "The project manager assigned the team a serious task of completing the project within a tight deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"It's a serious task".

The Guardian - Arts

Boris will now have a serious task in healing London.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The elimination of racism remains a serious task for all of us.

The Guardian

Efficient removal of lead from aqueous media remains a serious task for public health and environment.

Chemical Engineering Journal

"Indeed, it could be argued that only the legislature can undertake such a serious task as is envisaged by an address concerning the letters patent for a royal commissioner".

The Guardian

"And the Congress has a serious task ahead of it: to make sure that the army and the marine corps get the funds they need to sustain themselves and to sustain their equipment and their ammunition".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It is a very serious task, young man, and possibly a tragic one.

University of California, Berkeley

"I don't think this is something to be triumphalist about... this is a very serious task that we do not relish.

The Guardian

He also quibbled over the definition of the word "brief" and said that while the reports he saw did include mention of incidents like children being made to eat bird faeces for the amusement of correctional officers, "in the very next paragraph a pretty serious task force is investigating about the bird faeces".

The Guardian

As in other cases brought before it, this grand jury has a very serious task at hand; however, this time, the whole country is watching and waiting.

Huffington Post

Those dreams can seem too insubstantial and elusive to tangle with, a distraction from the serious task of changing the world.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a serious task" to convey the gravity and importance of an assignment or responsibility, ensuring the audience understands the level of dedication required.

Common error

Avoid using "a serious task" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "challenging assignment" or "significant responsibility" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious task" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "serious" modifies the noun "task". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and the examples demonstrate its role in describing assignments that are important or demanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a serious task" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe an assignment or responsibility that demands considerable effort, focus, and dedication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a standard expression found in various contexts, particularly within News & Media, Science, and Academic domains. When employing the phrase, it's beneficial to convey the weight and importance of the undertaking, but beware of overuse to maintain reader engagement. Synonyms like "challenging assignment" or "important undertaking" can help to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging assignment

Emphasizes the difficulty and demands of the task.

a demanding endeavor

Highlights the effort and energy required.

an important undertaking

Focuses on the significance and impact of the task.

a significant responsibility

Stresses the accountability and importance attached to the task.

a crucial mission

Implies a critical and vital nature of the task.

a major undertaking

Highlights the scale and scope of the task.

a weighty obligation

Emphasizes the burden and importance associated with the task.

a formidable challenge

Focuses on the difficulty and the obstacles to overcome.

a critical operation

Highlights the necessity and precision required for the task.

a tough job

Uses informal language to describe a difficult task.

FAQs

How can I use "a serious task" in a sentence?

You can use "a serious task" to describe something that requires considerable effort, focus, and dedication. For example, "Completing this research paper is "a serious task" that demands meticulous attention to detail."

What are some alternatives to "a serious task"?

Alternatives include "a challenging assignment", "a demanding endeavor", or "an important undertaking", each subtly shifting the emphasis while maintaining a similar core meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a serious task" in formal writing?

Yes, "a serious task" is appropriate for formal writing. It conveys the importance and weight of a particular job or duty without being overly colloquial.

What makes "a serious task" different from "a simple task"?

"A serious task" implies a level of complexity, importance, and required dedication that is absent in "a simple task". While a simple task might be quickly and easily completed, "a serious task" necessitates careful planning and execution.