are still working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are still working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or process is ongoing and has not yet been completed. Example: "The engineers are still working on the software update to fix the bugs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their minds are still working.

The New York Times - Science

Many are still working.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We are still working on a regulation".

The New York Times

The two are still working things out.

The New York Times

Two, Opportunity and Curiosity, are still working.

The Economist

They are still working on it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We are still working on further details.

Harvard University

We are still working it out".

The New York Times

"We are still working on improving them".

The New York Times

They are still working through it..

The Guardian

"We are still working on that".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are still working" to clearly indicate that an action or process is ongoing and has not yet reached completion. This avoids ambiguity and provides context about the current state of the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "are still working" in overly passive constructions where the active agent is unclear. Ensure the sentence clearly identifies who or what is performing the action to maintain clarity and avoid vagueness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are still working" functions as a present continuous verb phrase, indicating an action or process that is ongoing at the current time. It suggests that the subject started working at some point in the past and continues to do so. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are still working" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to indicate an ongoing action or process. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It is primarily used in news and media, as well as academic contexts, to report on current activities. While alternatives like "continue to work" and "remain operational" exist, the phrase is straightforward and widely understood, making it a versatile choice for describing ongoing work. Remember to avoid overuse in passive constructions and ensure clarity by identifying the active agent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue to work

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the work.

are presently employed

Focuses on the current employment status.

are still active

Highlights that someone or something is still performing actions.

are currently functioning

Highlights the operational aspect of something.

haven't stopped working

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the activity, using a more emphatic negative.

remain operational

Stresses that something is still in working order.

are in operation

Similar to 'remain operational', emphasizing the state of being active.

are yet to finish

Focuses on the lack of completion.

are continually laboring

Stresses persistent effort.

are persistently striving

Highlights ongoing effort toward a goal.

FAQs

How can I use "are still working" in a sentence?

Use "are still working" to indicate an ongoing activity, such as, "The engineers "are still working" on the software update" or "Many employees "are still working" from home".

What can I say instead of "are still working"?

You can use alternatives like "continue to work", "are presently employed", or "remain operational" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is still working" instead of "are still working"?

No, "is still working" is used for singular subjects, while "are still working" is used for plural subjects or when referring to 'you'. For example, "He is still working" but "They "are still working"".

What's the difference between "are still working" and "are currently working"?

While both phrases indicate an ongoing activity, "are still working" implies that the activity has been ongoing for some time, whereas "are currently working" simply emphasizes the present moment without necessarily implying a longer duration.