a very hard work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very hard work" is not correct in standard English.
The correct expression would typically be "very hard work" without the article "a." Example: "Completing this project requires very hard work and dedication."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Formal & Business

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We suspected that it was a very hard work.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I am a very hard working person and feel that each point where things were extra hard, I did the best I could with the information I had.

The Guardian - Business

As it happened I knew him from a few participation committees we'd sat on together and was able to assure him that Luigi was a very hard working young man who would not waste the opportunity if it were offered to him.

The Guardian

Reading his biography also, we see that he is a very hard working individual.

Huffington Post

I grew up in Whittier and had a very hard working mother that raised me to be extremely independent.

Los Angeles Times

Hollywood, he wrote to a friend, is "a mixture of very hard work and the industrious contrivance of untruths".

The New Yorker

Just the nine of us, standing there at the end of a very long journey and a lot of very hard work, getting to share the pure joy of that moment with the world.

Huffington Post

I have a better grade than I have expected, as a result of very hard work.

BBC

"A lot of very hard work has gone into that.

The Guardian - Sport

We go through a period of very hard work sending trees out.

Independent

Now I have to pinch myself every day.​ This is good fun and it doesn't feel like work ​– although running a pub is very hard work".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "a very hard work", opt for the more standard and acceptable "very hard work" or other alternatives such as "difficult task" or "demanding job".

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "very hard work". The phrase "very hard work" functions as a noun phrase describing a type of effort, and does not require an article in most contexts. Using "a very hard work" is grammatically unusual and can sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very hard work" functions as a noun phrase, intended to describe a task or activity requiring significant effort. However, it deviates from standard English grammar, as indicated by Ludwig. The accurate form is "very hard work."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a very hard work" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the accurate and recommended form is "very hard work". While the intention is to convey the high level of effort required for a task, it's best to avoid using "a very hard work" and opt for alternatives such as "very hard work", "difficult task", or "demanding job". Although examples exist across various sources, its unidiomatic nature and grammatical issues make it unsuitable for formal or professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely difficult task

Replaces "very hard" with "extremely difficult", emphasizing the high level of difficulty. It also replaces "work" with task.

particularly challenging job

Substitutes "very hard" with "particularly challenging", suggesting a significant degree of difficulty in a professional context. It also replaces "work" with job.

exceptionally demanding assignment

Replaces "very hard" with "exceptionally demanding", highlighting the high requirements and effort needed. It also replaces "work" with assignment.

extraordinarily laborious endeavor

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "very hard" with "extraordinarily laborious" to emphasize the intense effort. It also replaces "work" with endeavor.

highly strenuous activity

Emphasizes the physical or mental exertion involved, replacing "very hard" with "highly strenuous". It also replaces "work" with activity.

significantly taxing undertaking

Highlights the burden and effort required, replacing "very hard" with "significantly taxing". It also replaces "work" with undertaking.

intensely grueling process

Focuses on the exhausting and prolonged nature of the task, replacing "very hard" with "intensely grueling". It also replaces "work" with process.

considerably arduous undertaking

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "very hard" with "considerably arduous" to denote a difficult and tiring effort. It also replaces "work" with undertaking.

remarkably exacting operation

Stresses the precision and care required, replacing "very hard" with "remarkably exacting". It also replaces "work" with operation.

really tough endeavor

Replaces "very hard" with "really tough", maintaining an informal tone while emphasizing the difficulty. It also replaces "work" with endeavor.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a very hard work"?

No, the phrase "a very hard work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's more appropriate to say "very hard work" without the article "a." Alternatively, you could rephrase it as "a very difficult task" or "a very challenging project".

What are some alternatives to "a very hard work"?

Instead of "a very hard work", consider using phrases like "very hard work", "a great deal of effort", "a considerable amount of labor", or "a difficult task", depending on the context.

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

You can use "very hard work" in a sentence like this: "Completing this project requires "very hard work" and dedication." or "The success of the company is attributed to the team's "very hard work"."

What is the difference between "a hard work" and "hard work"?

The phrase "a hard work" is not commonly used and sounds grammatically incorrect. The correct and more natural way to express the idea is to use "hard work" without the article "a." "Hard work" is a general term referring to diligent and sustained effort.