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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a very challenging work

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE 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

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

The New York Times

Reopening occlusive blood vessels safely and efficiently remains a very challenging work in patients with acute ischemic stroke or coronary heart disease.

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.

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

The Guardian

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

BBC

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

The Guardian

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

The Guardian

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

The Guardian

"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 Guardian

The origin determination of nuclear material is very challenging work.

Science & Research

Science Magazine

"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

HuffPost
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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.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

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".

Expression frequency: Rare

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.

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"?

You can replace "challenging" with words like "demanding", "difficult", or "arduous" to describe a demanding job.

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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Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: