besides working on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "besides working on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce an additional activity or responsibility that someone is engaged in, often in a context where multiple tasks are being discussed. Example: "Besides working on the marketing campaign, she is also managing the social media accounts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

But as if he didn't have enough to do, besides working on three plays simultaneously and getting ready to publish a new book in two weeks, Mr. Wright has been taking piano lessons with Floyd Domino, the two-time Grammy winner, and on a recent Saturday, in his buffalo shirt, he played in a concert at the Victory Grill here with the band WhoDo.

The New York Times - Books

Plus, Estevez hasn't been doing much lately besides working on passion projects about the library, so he should be available.

Vice

These days, besides working on shoe designs, Cavallari is getting ready for parenthood with her fiance, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

Huffington Post

Besides working on his pitching with Richmond, the Braves hope Rocker will overcome his off-the-field problems.

The New York Times - Sports

Besides working on two more plays right now, he & his wife live in Drexel Hill, near Philadelphia, & he teaches graduate courses in film history & playwrighting at Villanova.

The New Yorker

Besides working on Mopani, Zambia's second biggest copper and cobalt producer, the CTPD also advised ActionAid on the Zambian tax affairs of SABMiller.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The traditional aerospace companies remain leery of the plans, as my colleague Ken Chang reported Monday, but there are other upstarts besides SpaceX working on projects to get humans into space, and they would be potential competitors.

The New York Times - Science

Oculus has been notoriously shy about speaking on input, besides suggesting they're working on it.

The Guardian - Tech

And besides people are already working on how to put transistors in contact lenses.

TechCrunch

Are you working on anything besides the "Achewood" comic strip, books, merchandise, and blogs?

The New Yorker

We don't know anything about it besides that the company is working on it.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "besides working on" to clearly indicate supplementary tasks or responsibilities someone has, ensuring it adds relevant context to the main activity being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "besides working on" when you actually want to emphasize a replacement activity. "Instead of working on" is more appropriate in that case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "besides working on" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces additional activities or responsibilities, coexisting with a primary task. Ludwig AI data confirms it's a valid and useful way to present supplementary information in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "besides working on" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, although not very common, that serves to introduce additional activities or responsibilities alongside a primary task. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds applications in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects supplementary rather than replacement activities. For more formal scenarios, consider alternatives like "in addition to working on". While its register is neutral, it is well-suited for professional or news-related communication due to its structured nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in addition to working on

Replaces "besides" with "in addition to", emphasizing the additive nature of the activity.

apart from working on

Uses "apart from" to indicate exclusion of the primary activity when considering other activities.

aside from working on

Similar to "apart from", but slightly more informal.

along with working on

Highlights that the activities are done concurrently.

as well as working on

Indicates that the activity is an extra responsibility or task.

beyond just working on

Emphasizes that the activity is more encompassing than merely working on something.

over and above working on

Highlights that the extra activity goes beyond the normal requirements.

on top of working on

Informal way to express additional tasks or duties.

besides the work on

Shifts the focus to the work itself, rather than the act of working.

outside of working on

Indicates that the additional activities are separate or external to the primary task.

FAQs

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

Use "besides working on" to introduce additional tasks or activities someone is involved in. For example, "Besides working on the project, she also manages the team's schedule."

What are some alternatives to "besides working on"?

You can use phrases like "in addition to working on", "apart from working on", or "as well as working on" as alternatives. Each subtly changes the emphasis but maintains a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "besides working on" and "instead of working on"?

"Besides working on" indicates additional activities, while "instead of working on" implies a replacement activity. Therefore, they are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "besides working on" in formal writing?

It is appropriate in formal writing when you need to list additional responsibilities. Consider alternatives like "in addition to" or "apart from" for a more formal tone.