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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a very challenging work
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a very challenging work" is not correct in standard English.
It should be "a very challenging task" or "a very challenging piece of work." Example: "Completing the project on time was a very challenging task for the team."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(17)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
3 human-written examples
"We've had a very challenging work year," Ms. Pelosi said.
News & Media
Reopening occlusive blood vessels safely and efficiently remains a very challenging work in patients with acute ischemic stroke or coronary heart disease.
Science
While supporting dependencies is a very challenging work in any software development project, it makes it difficult to the user to decide which software to use.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
It's very challenging work – it isn't an easy job".
News & Media
In contrast curator Yumi Goto presented the audience with the work of a number of documentary photographers, some of whom were presenting very challenging work.
News & Media
Even though plenty of women are out there – making very personal, very challenging work – few are producing the large-scale box-office hits delivered by their male peers.
News & Media
After all the vast majority of them are doing very challenging work on behalf of society for very low pay and too little recognition.
News & Media
Not until the entire care sector rewards its people fairly for the very challenging work they undertake will older people get the excellent support they deserve.
News & Media
"Some very challenging work remains to be completed, but we will continue to work alongside the government to deliver this important piece of infrastructure, and we will continue to keep the public informed of our progress towards its completion.
News & Media
The origin determination of nuclear material is very challenging work.
Science & Research
"At the same time, the president continues to have complete confidence in the professionals at the Secret Service to do the very challenging work" that they do.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing demanding activities, use more grammatically sound alternatives like "a very challenging task" or "a challenging piece of work" for clarity and precision.
Common error
Be careful to avoid using "work" as a direct substitute for "task" or "project" in formal writing; ensure the phrase accurately reflects the intended meaning and adheres to standard English grammar.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a very challenging work" attempts to function as a descriptor for an activity or task, highlighting its difficulty. However, as Ludwig AI explains, the construction isn't standard English. Better alternatives include "a challenging task" or "a challenging piece of work".
Frequent in
News & Media
67%
Science
33%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "a very challenging work" appears in various sources, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests opting for more precise alternatives like "a very challenging task" or "a challenging piece of work" to maintain clarity and adhere to standard English grammar. Although examples are limited, the phrase tends to appear in News & Media and Science contexts. When describing demanding activities, prioritize grammatical correctness and consider using synonyms like "demanding task" or "arduous project" for enhanced clarity and professionalism.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
a highly demanding task
Replaces "challenging" with "demanding" to emphasize the effort required.
a particularly difficult undertaking
Substitutes "challenging" with "difficult" and "work" with "undertaking" to highlight the complexity.
an extremely tough assignment
Uses "tough" instead of "challenging" to underscore the rigor of the work.
a remarkably complex endeavor
Replaces "challenging" with "complex" and "work" with "endeavor" to stress the intricate nature.
a formidably arduous project
Employs "formidably arduous" instead of "very challenging" to convey a sense of imposing difficulty.
a significantly taxing effort
Uses "taxing" to indicate the strain involved in the work.
a seriously daunting activity
Substitutes "challenging" with "daunting" to emphasize the intimidating aspect.
a severely testing exercise
Replaces "challenging" with "testing" to highlight the evaluative nature of the work.
a rigorously demanding responsibility
Employs "rigorously demanding" to underscore the high standards and expectations.
a substantially onerous undertaking
Uses "onerous" to indicate the burdensome aspect of the work.
FAQs
What is a grammatically correct alternative to "a very challenging work"?
A grammatically sound alternative to "a very challenging work" is "a very challenging "challenging task"" or "a very challenging "piece of work"".
How can I use the idea of a demanding job without using the word "challenging"?
Is it better to say "challenging work" or "challenging task"?
While "challenging work" is commonly used, "challenging "challenging task"" is often more grammatically precise as "task" explicitly refers to a specific job or activity.
In what contexts might "a very challenging work" be acceptable, even if not strictly correct?
While not strictly grammatically correct, "a very challenging work" might be used in informal conversation; however, formal writing requires more precise alternatives like "a challenging "challenging project"".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested