burden of work

USAGE SUMMARY

"burden of work" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation in which someone is taking on a significant workload or is feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities. For example, "John's burden of work has been steadily increasing and he is finding it difficult to keep up with all of his tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

One reason for misjudging working conditions in primary care in Germany might be due to the fact that many GP trainees work in a single handed practice during their vocational training period and therefore experience a higher burden of work with more working hours than colleagues in group practices [ 20].

BMC Family Practice

No one who embarks on that path can be under any illusions about the burden of work involved.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since the dawn of the industrial age, technology has been lightening the burden of work and driving the pace of economic change.

The New York Times

And at the business meetings I see, an incredibly heavy burden of work lies on the shoulders of those who attend.

The New York Times

Thomas, the head of the judiciary in England and Wales, said that judges, in common with many other people, felt their burden of work had increased.

The Guardian

Until that point pre-capacitive consumer smartphones typically had limited email support, while RIM's BlackBerry had brought the burden of work email to employee palms starting in 2003.

The Guardian - Tech

Worse still, Lithuania's current president, Valdas Adamkus, a returned émigré from America, is ill and out of touch.Another worry is the sheer burden of work to be done.

The Economist

Many people have imagined that technology will free us from the burden of work; if Hanson is right, that freedom could come through the virtualization of the human race.

The New Yorker

"Among them, the burden of work and the informational overburden, the blurring of the borders between private life and professional life, are risks associated with the usage of digital technology".

The New Yorker

The evil resulting from this is that the strain on all the services involved escapes attention, as those with a huge burden of work in the frontline of patching up society's ills are punished rather than supported.

The Guardian

After the departure of Sam Adam Sr. and Sam Adam Jr., the lead lawyers in the first trial, the burden of work has increased "fourfold" on Aaron Goldstein and his co-counsel, Sheldon Sorosky, Mr. Goldstein said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "burden of work", consider specifying what aspects of the work create the burden, such as tight deadlines, complex tasks, or high expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "burden of work" without providing context. Instead of saying, "The burden of work is high," specify who is experiencing the burden and what contributes to it. For example, "The burden of work on the nursing staff has increased due to recent staff shortages."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "burden of work" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the weight or difficulty associated with tasks. As Ludwig examples show, it's frequently used to express challenges related to workload management and employee well-being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "burden of work" is a commonly used expression referring to the strain or difficulty caused by the amount of work one has to do. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct and acceptable English phrase. Analysis of the examples shows that it's particularly prevalent in scientific and news media contexts, and is used to describe situations where workload causes stress or poses a challenge. While similar phrases like "workload" exist, "burden of work" specifically implies a negative impact. When using the phrase, it's best to provide context about what contributes to the burden. Be mindful of the subtle difference between related terms and opt to use this when workload is heavy and hard to accomplish.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

onerous workload

Similar to "burden of work", but uses a slightly more formal adjective to describe the workload.

heavy workload

A more straightforward way of expressing a large amount of work, without necessarily implying stress or difficulty.

workload

Focuses on the amount of work needing to be done, omitting the implication of difficulty or stress.

excessive workload

Emphasizes that the workload is beyond what is reasonable or manageable.

job stress

Highlights the stress caused by work, rather than the amount of work itself.

work pressure

Emphasizes the pressure associated with completing work tasks, but doesn't necessarily refer to the volume of work.

job demands

Focuses on the requirements of a job, but not necessarily the negative aspects of a heavy workload.

demands of the job

Similar to "job demands", but emphasizes the expectations and requirements set by the job itself.

work responsibilities

Highlights the duties and obligations tied to work, but less about the strain.

pressure of responsibilities

Highlights the strain from having many duties, but does not exclusively focus on "work".

FAQs

How can I use "burden of work" in a sentence?

You can use "burden of work" to describe the amount of effort or stress involved in a particular job or task. For example, "The new project added to the already heavy "burden of work" for the team."

What's a less formal way to say "burden of work"?

Less formal alternatives to "burden of work" include "heavy workload" or "pile of work". These options are more conversational and suitable for informal contexts.

What is the difference between "burden of work" and "workload"?

"Workload" refers to the amount of work, while "burden of work" implies that the amount of work is excessive or difficult to manage. The "burden of work" carries a more negative connotation than workload.

What are some phrases similar to "burden of work" that emphasize stress?

Phrases like "job stress" or "work pressure" highlight the stressful aspects of work. These alternatives emphasize the psychological impact of demanding work conditions. Consider alternatives like "job stress" or "work pressure".