colossal undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "colossal undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or project that is extremely large, complex, or ambitious in nature. Example: "The construction of the new bridge was a colossal undertaking that required years of planning and resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The killings were a colossal undertaking.

The New York Times

Whatever the intentions, though, pushing the world's largest and most diversified economy in any particular direction is a colossal undertaking.

The New York Times

In 1999, he announced plans to demolish all of Chicago's public-housing towers, a colossal undertaking equivalent to relocating a city of more than fifty thousand people.

The New Yorker

It has also pledged that 20% of its energy would come from renewable sources by 2030, a colossal undertaking equivalent to powering the United States national grid purely through non-fossil fuels.

The Guardian

A colossal song to celebrate a colossal undertaking.

BBC

This will be a colossal undertaking.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

There have been several excellent works on Hungarian history published in English, but few have attempted the colossal task undertaken by Paul Lendvai and László Kontler in these accounts.

The Guardian - Books

Rather, Maitland creates a multifaceted narrative mosaic, in which news accounts local and national converge with rumor, in which a community is suddenly and catastrophically transformed and some of its members are inspired to undertake colossal acts of daring and heroism of the sort that daily life rarely elicits and even more rarely records.

The New Yorker

Its blandly corporate name is an acronym of Architecture, Engineering, Consulting, Operations and Maintenance – just some of the tasks this colossal machine undertakes alongside planning, construction, energy, transport and mining.

The Guardian - Arts

Indeed, we know about this period of Jewish history in large part thanks to Josephus, whose colossal work "Jewish Antiquities" undertook to record the entire history of the Jews, for the benefit of a non-Jewish, Greek-speaking audience.

The New Yorker

The four volumes of "Mercy of a Rude Stream," the colossal novel that he undertook four decades later and only consented to publish beginning in 1990, may be the closest thing to the Great American Novel in its hugeness and its horror, its span of time and its multiple voices — including those of the elderly Roth and of a variety of his adolescent self.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "colossal undertaking" when you want to emphasize not only the large size of a project but also its inherent complexity and the resources it will require.

Common error

Avoid using "colossal undertaking" too frequently in your writing. While impactful, overuse can diminish its effect. Vary your language with synonyms like "mammoth task" or "monumental project" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "colossal undertaking" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "colossal" modifies the noun "undertaking". It's typically used to describe the scale, complexity, and difficulty of a particular project or task. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "colossal undertaking" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to describe projects or tasks of considerable scale and complexity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly common, it finds frequent application in news and media, as well as academic contexts. When considering alternatives, phrases like "mammoth task" or "monumental project" can provide similar emphasis. It's crucial to avoid overuse and to consider the intended nuance when selecting the most appropriate descriptor. The phrase generally maintains a neutral tone, and is appropriate for professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

huge undertaking

A more straightforward substitution of "colossal" with "huge", retaining the original meaning.

monumental project

Substitutes "undertaking" with "project" and "colossal" with "monumental", emphasizing the grand scale and significance.

mammoth task

Replaces "undertaking" with "task" and "colossal" with "mammoth", focusing on the immense size of the task.

massive enterprise

Uses "enterprise" as a synonym for "undertaking" and "massive" for "colossal", conveying the large scope and complexity.

ambitious endeavor

Focuses on the aspirational and ambitious nature of the project.

herculean effort

Shifts the focus from the task itself to the immense effort required, using a classical allusion.

formidable challenge

Highlights the difficulty and intimidating nature of the task, rather than just its size.

extensive operation

Replaces "undertaking" with "operation" and "colossal" with "extensive", suitable for describing large-scale processes.

large-scale venture

Focuses on the commercial or speculative aspect of the project, using "venture" instead of "undertaking".

major operation

Using a more commonplace expression that lowers the degree of complexity, since it is semantically a bit weaker.

FAQs

How can I use "colossal undertaking" in a sentence?

You can use "colossal undertaking" to describe a project or task that is extremely large, complex, and ambitious. For example, "Building the Panama Canal was a "colossal undertaking" that took many years and significant resources".

What are some alternatives to "colossal undertaking"?

Alternatives include "mammoth task", "monumental project", or "herculean effort". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "colossal undertaking" formal or informal?

"Colossal undertaking" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase. It's appropriate for news articles, academic papers, and business reports. In more casual conversation, simpler terms like "big project" might be preferred.

What makes an undertaking "colossal"?

An undertaking is "colossal" when it involves significant resources, a large scale, high complexity, and a considerable amount of time and effort. It suggests a project that is not only large but also presents substantial challenges.