a very ambitious task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very ambitious task" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task that requires significant effort, resources, or determination to accomplish. Example: "Completing the project within a month is a very ambitious task, but our team is ready to take on the challenge."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

You can imagine if a company our size had to train all those people in two quarters that would be a very ambitious task".

The New York Times

The study of the near-surface nanomechanical properties of thin films is a very ambitious task and can be accomplished by advanced surface sensitive techniques.

Surface and Coatings Technology

In contrast, the variety of NoSQL datastores that have been defined so far, most of which operating with a different query language, make the definition of a general approach a very ambitious task.

Data Science and Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's a very ambitious project.

The New York Times

This is a very ambitious project, with a time-scale of only 4 years from start to finish.

Language Testing in Asia

"This is a very ambitious project.

Los Angeles Times

It was a very ambitious undertaking in difficult economic times.

Huffington Post

Just not a very ambitious one.

The New York Times

IT WAS not a very ambitious target.

The Economist

"He was a very ambitious person.

The New York Times

"This is a very ambitious rollout," Mr. Mason said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a very ambitious task" when you want to emphasize that a task requires significant effort, resources, and a strong commitment to achieve.

Common error

While accurate, using "a very ambitious task" repeatedly can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "a challenging endeavor" or "a demanding project" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very ambitious task" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, indicating it fits well within standard English sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very ambitious task" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe an undertaking that demands significant effort and resources. Ludwig confirms its correctness, but also suggests exploring alternative phrases such as "a highly challenging endeavor" or "a demanding project" for variety. This phrase is versatile enough for news, scientific, and business contexts. Be mindful of overuse and consider whether the task's ambition is realistically achievable. While the examples provided by Ludwig are limited, the phrase clearly serves to emphasize the magnitude and complexity of a given undertaking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a highly challenging endeavor

Replaces "task" with "endeavor" and "ambitious" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the undertaking.

a particularly demanding project

Substitutes "task" with "project" and "ambitious" with "demanding", highlighting the effort required.

an extremely difficult undertaking

Replaces "task" with "undertaking" and amplifies "ambitious" to "extremely difficult", stressing the level of hardship.

a considerably complex assignment

Changes "task" to "assignment" and "ambitious" to "complex", focusing on the intricacy involved.

a remarkably far-reaching objective

Shifts from "task" to "objective" and describes it as "far-reaching", emphasizing the broad scope of the goal.

a notably extensive operation

Replaces "task" with "operation" and uses "extensive" to describe the breadth of the work.

a truly groundbreaking endeavor

Substitutes "task" with "endeavor" and describes it as "groundbreaking", focusing on its innovative nature.

an exceptionally innovative scheme

Changes "task" to "scheme" and "ambitious" to "innovative", emphasizing the creative aspect of the undertaking.

a venturesome undertaking

A more concise alternative that replaces "a very ambitious task" with a single adjective, venturesome, directly modifying undertaking.

a Herculean task

Uses the adjective "Herculean" to emphasize the level of difficulty associated with the task.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a very ambitious task" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "a highly challenging endeavor", "a remarkably complex undertaking", or "a notably extensive operation" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

What does it mean when something is described as "a very ambitious task"?

It means the task requires significant effort, resources, and determination to accomplish. It's not just a simple or routine activity; it pushes the boundaries of what's easily achievable.

Is it always positive to describe something as "a very ambitious task"?

Not necessarily. While ambition is generally seen as positive, describing a task as "a very ambitious task" can also imply that it might be unrealistic or overly difficult, requiring careful planning and execution to succeed. It could also be interpreted as hubristic.

What are some less formal alternatives to "a very ambitious task"?

For less formal situations, you could say it's "a big challenge", "a tough job", or "a huge undertaking". These options are more conversational and easier to understand in everyday contexts.