a system work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a system work" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "The project requires a system to work efficiently and effectively."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Can such a system work?

The New York Times

How might such a system work?

The New York Times

"Does this mean that my statements compromise the patents of the first person to actually make such a system work?

The New York Times

A14 Joseph R. Biden Jr., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that plans for missile defense sacrifice national security for the sake of a "theological" belief and that the effort to make such a system work would cost astronomical sums.

The New York Times

Declaring a profound difference with President Bush, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., said today that plans for missile defense sacrifice national security for the sake of a "theological" belief -- and that the effort to make such a system work would cost astronomical amounts of money.

The New York Times

Structural studies reveal how smaller components of a system work together as a whole.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Such a system worked fairly well while Google was in its infancy.

The Economist

To make an informed decision about a house with a septic system, Mr. Keeton said, prospective homeowners first need to understand how such a system works.

The New York Times

A system working against the interest of the civil servants.

Huffington Post

If a system worked before the emergency, it's more likely to keep working afterward, too.

Huffington Post

This little dude had a system worked out like a corner kid from The Wire.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a system in operation, ensure the verb form is grammatically correct. Use "a system that works" or "a working system" instead of "a system work".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb "work" directly after "a system". Always include a relative pronoun like "that" or use a present participle like "working" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a system work" is grammatically incorrect as it lacks a proper verb form. It attempts to describe the action or state of a system but fails to do so accurately. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a system work" is grammatically incorrect and lacks usage examples. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is not correct in standard written English. Therefore, alternative phrases like "a system that works", "a working system", or "how a system works" should be used instead to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. The intended purpose, if the phrase were correct, would be to describe a system in operation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a system that works

Adds "that" to form a relative clause, grammatically correcting the phrase.

a working system

Rephrases to use "working" as an adjective describing a system that is in operation.

a system is working

Changes to present continuous tense, emphasizing the ongoing process.

a system functions

Replaces "work" with the more formal and grammatically sound "functions".

a functional system

Emphasizes the system's capability to perform its intended purpose.

a system operates

Uses "operates" to denote the active and ongoing process of a system in action.

a system performs

Substitutes "work" with "performs" to highlight the system's execution of tasks.

how a system works

Adds "how" to form a question or explanation about the system's functionality.

a system in operation

Uses a prepositional phrase to describe the system's active state.

the system's operation

Nominalizes the phrase, focusing on the act of the system operating.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say that a system is functioning?

The correct way is to say "a system that works" or "a working system". The phrase "a system work" is grammatically incorrect.

How can I describe a system that is currently in operation?

You can describe it as "a system is working", which uses the present continuous tense to indicate an ongoing process. You could also describe it as "a system in operation".

What's the difference between "a system works" and "a system is working"?

"A system works" describes a general capability or characteristic, while "a system is working" describes a system that is currently in operation.

What can I say instead of "a system work" to describe the functionality of a system?

Instead of "a system work", use alternatives such as "a system functions", "a system operates", or "the system's operation".