a steady work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a steady work" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "steady work" without the article "a." Example: "Finding steady work can be challenging in today's job market."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Ahead for Uncle Mo is a steady work tab and an abbreviated race schedule.

The New York Times - Sports

"Most people with a steady work history will do less well under the single-tier pension," says Mercer actuary Deborah Cooper.

Independent

With Japan's population projected to decline steeply over the next decades, the failure to secure a steady work force could harm the nation's long-term economic competitiveness.

The New York Times

It is not as if they refuse to study film or break down tendencies at this stage, but the season has been a steady work in progress.

The New York Times - Sports

In other words, resources for fighting these fires have been so subject to political fluctuation that there was no way to ensure a steady work force.

The New York Times

The British teams have been a steady work in progress since 2007, when Sir Steve Redgrave appealed for potential Olympians with athletic ability to fill the talent gap in certain sports to come forward for trials.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The small heat engine achieved a steady working frequency of 45 Hz.

Cryogenics

Certainly, no one can doubt that she combines his policy commitments with a far greater level of self-control and a steadier work ethic.

The New York Times

NKCC2A has a steadier work-load (in man 1 mole of Na+ is filtered each hour, day or night, and must be reabsorbed, dietary fluctuations represent a tiny fraction of this), whereas for NKCC1 activity may have to be low at rest but be capable of rising rapidly to deal with high peak demands.

Plosone

Ten years ago he still had a normal life: a family and steady work with a moving company.

The Guardian

She sang in nightclubs, wrote music for television commercials and, for a while, found steady work as an actress in the city's burgeoning pornographic film industry.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to consistent or reliable work, omit the article "a". Use the phrase "steady work" to align with standard English grammar and improve clarity.

Common error

The phrase "a steady work" is grammatically incorrect. Using the article "a" implies you're treating "work" as a countable noun in this context, which is inaccurate. Always use "steady work" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a noun phrase describing a type of employment or effort. However, the addition of the article "a" before "steady work" renders the phrase grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The query "a steady work" is flagged as grammatically incorrect by Ludwig's AI. The correct form is "steady work", without the indefinite article "a". This noun phrase describes consistent, reliable employment or effort. While there are examples of the phrase appearing in various sources, the grammatically standard and widely accepted form is "steady work". Alternatives like "consistent work" or "regular employment" can also be used. Remember to omit the article "a" to maintain grammatical correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consistent work

Focuses on the regularity and dependability of the work.

consistent job

Synonymous to consistent work, but uses the word "job".

steady employment

Similar to regular employment but emphasizes continuity.

regular employment

Emphasizes the formal aspect of having a job with consistent hours.

stable work

Similar to steady work, but focuses on the characteristic of not fluctuating dramatically.

stable job

Highlights the security and lack of volatility in the work situation.

reliable work

Stresses the trustworthiness and dependability of the work.

permanent position

Highlights the long-term nature and security of the work.

sustained effort

Shifts the focus to the effort involved in work, rather than the work itself.

continuous output

Focuses on the uninterrupted flow of work production.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a steady work"?

No, the correct phrase is "steady work" without the article "a". Using "a" before "steady work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English.

What does "steady work" mean?

"Steady work" refers to consistent and reliable employment or effort, implying a stable and dependable source of income or productivity.

What can I say instead of "a steady work"?

You can use alternatives like "consistent work", "regular employment", or "stable job" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a steady work" or "steady work"?

"Steady work" is the correct and grammatically accepted phrase. "A steady work" is not standard English.