begun work on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "begun work on" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "begun working on" or "begun to work on." Example: "She has begun working on the new project with great enthusiasm."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Dr. Rieder has already begun work on his next book, one that returns to his childhood love of crossover music.

The New York Times

In that regard researchers at the University of Victoria have begun work on an electronic database translation engine for automated comparison of one HPC database to another [ 13].

BMC Palliative Care

It has begun work on the latter.

The Guardian

* * *  TGC had begun work on Journey in 2009.

The New Yorker

Luckily, Mr. Neelman has already begun work on a sequel.

The New York Times

If you're lucky, you've begun work on your next.

The New York Times

* * * TGC had begun work on Journey in 2009.

The New Yorker

One of its subsidiaries, Eurocopter, has begun work on a diesel-powered helicopter.

The Economist

Is this book a response to the crash, or had you begun work on it already?

The New Yorker

Mr. Taylor hasn't actually begun work on the score yet, but is tuning up.

The New Yorker

Ms. Jencks has already begun work on the other two sculptures.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "begun work on" is commonly used, consider using "begun working on" or "started work on" for grammatically correct and clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "begun work on" in formal writing to prevent grammatical ambiguity. Instead, opt for alternatives like "started working on" or "began to work on" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begun work on" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an activity or project. While commonly used, it's important to note, as Ludwig AI points out, that it's grammatically questionable, with "begun working on" being a more standard alternative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "begun work on" is frequently used across various media and contexts, Ludwig AI advises that it is grammatically questionable. It functions to communicate the start of an action or project. For improved clarity and correctness, especially in formal settings, it is advisable to use alternatives such as "begun working on", "started work on", or "commenced work on".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started working on

Implies a commencement of effort, similar to "begun work on", but uses a more standard verb form.

began working on

Another variation of the phrase that uses a more standard verb form for the start of an activity.

started to work on

Similar in meaning, this phrase explicitly includes the 'to' before the verb, clarifying the intent.

commenced work on

Uses a more formal verb to indicate the start of working on something.

initiated work on

Emphasizes the action of initiating or starting the work.

set about working on

Implies starting to address or deal with something in a structured way.

undertook work on

Suggests taking on or committing to working on something.

taken up work on

Suggests beginning work as a new task or responsibility.

embarked on work on

This suggests starting a journey or new endeavor related to the work.

devoted themselves to working on

Implies a commitment of time and effort to a specific task or area.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "begun work on"?

The grammatically correct alternatives to "begun work on" are "begun working on" or "started work on".

Is "begun work on" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, "begun work on" is considered "incorrect". The correct forms are "begun working on" or "began work on".

What are some alternatives to "begun work on" for a resume?

For a resume, stronger and clearer alternatives to "begun work on" include "initiated", "commenced", or "started" followed by a description of the project.

How can I use "begun working on" in a sentence?

You can use "begun working on" like this: "She has "begun working on" her doctoral thesis."