a very demanding work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very demanding work" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "very demanding work" or "a very demanding job" depending on the context. Example: "She found very demanding work in the field of medicine, which required long hours and intense focus."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

* "I Miss You": A girl has doubts about staying with her boyfriend, who has a very demanding work schedule.

Wikipedia

I guess I was a quick learner, because it was a very demanding work environment, and the truth is, most writers didn't get asked back.

Huffington Post

Over such a long reading one's mind can wander, and mine did, and I was already exhausted from a very demanding work week, maybe even a bit ill, and my butt grew sore from sitting, but as we neared the end I was fairly shocked to feel that if it went on much longer, I just might burst into tears -- which would have embarrassed me deeply as I was in the front row of readers facing the big crowd.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

During his Ph.D., Añel "planned for himself a very rigorous and very demanding work," Gimeno says.

Science Magazine

You may help him keep a list, but again this is very demanding work.

WikiHow

"It's very demanding work that's not for everybody, and for some of the lower-skilled positions, the wages are low and turnover is high.

The New York Times

As Ikram (woman of Moroccan origin) points out: "for us it's easier, so why not try your best?" Our interviewees repeatedly emphasize that their parents would often tell them about their low wages and the low prestige of their work while doing physically very demanding work.

Comparative Migration Studies

The experiences in the first injection campaign show that an execution of the injection works in an underground karst cave located remotely in developing country is very demanding works and could require many short notice adaptations.

Applied Water Science

Forty-eight subjects (27 males and 21 females) refused our invitation since "they felt in good health" and they had very demanding working activities restricting their free time.

BMC Public Health

I knew that I wanted to experience firsthand what it would be like to work in a very demanding fashion house.

The Guardian

"I find it just amazing that he was capable of working in a very demanding job and spend every moment that he had with his wife and kids, and still be able to have a good time fishing and going golfing with his friends," said his youngest brother, Chris Tucker.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing work that requires significant effort, consider using the phrase "very demanding work" without the article "a". Alternatively, phrases like "a very demanding job" or "a very challenging task" are grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Common error

A frequent mistake is using the article "a" before "very demanding work". While "a very demanding job" is correct, "a very demanding work" sounds unnatural. Always double-check the noun following the adjective phrase to ensure correct article usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while not grammatically sound in its complete form, aims to function as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "work". It intends to describe the work as requiring significant effort, skill, or attention. Ludwig AI notes that "a very demanding work" is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a very demanding work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it's more appropriate to say "very demanding work" (without the article "a") or to use alternative phrases like "a very demanding job" or "a very challenging task". While the individual words are common across various contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Wiki, the specific construction with the article "a" is not standard. Therefore, it's advisable to opt for grammatically correct alternatives in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a very challenging task

Replaces "work" with "task", emphasizing the difficulty aspect.

a highly rigorous job

Substitutes "demanding" with "rigorous" and "work" with "job", denoting strictness and precision.

a particularly taxing endeavor

Uses "taxing" to highlight the draining nature of the work and "endeavor" as a more formal synonym for "work".

an extremely arduous project

Employs "arduous" to emphasize the difficulty and "project" as a defined undertaking.

a considerably exacting assignment

Replaces "demanding" with "exacting", indicating precision and strictness in the assignment.

a very strenuous undertaking

Uses "strenuous" to emphasize the effort required.

a truly formidable activity

Substitutes "demanding" with "formidable", indicating the work inspires respect and perhaps some fear due to its difficulty.

a significantly challenging endeavor

Reiterates the difficulty with "challenging", and employs the formal "endeavor".

a seriously testing occupation

Uses "testing" to underline the difficulty and "occupation" as a synonym for "work".

a particularly gruelling activity

Employs "gruelling" to emphasize the exhausting nature of the work.

FAQs

How can I use "a very demanding work" correctly in a sentence?

While the phrase "a very demanding work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, you can say "very demanding work" without the article. Alternatively, use phrases like "a very demanding job" or "a very challenging task".

What's a more appropriate way to describe work that requires significant effort instead of "a very demanding work"?

Instead of "a very demanding work", consider using alternatives like "a very challenging task", "a highly rigorous job", or simply "demanding work".

Is there a difference between "a very demanding job" and "a very demanding work"?

Yes, "a very demanding job" is grammatically correct because "job" is a countable noun. "A very demanding work" is generally considered incorrect. It's better to say just "demanding work" or rephrase using alternatives like "a very challenging task".

What are some synonyms for "demanding" when describing work?

When describing work, you can replace "demanding" with synonyms like "challenging", "rigorous", "arduous", or "taxing". For example, "a challenging project" instead of "a demanding project" or a "highly rigorous job".