construction work was in progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "construction work was in progress" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where construction activities are currently taking place at a specific location. Example: "Due to safety concerns, the area was closed off because construction work was in progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was reported in mid-May that construction work was in progress on the last two piers of the bridge, though low river levels meant that staging could not be installed to allow further work on the bridge framework.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

These terms looked to ultimate security rather than immediate reimbursement, inasmuch as the corporation would require all its available means in construction; and to require it, while the work was in progress, to keep down the interest on the bonds of the United States, might seriously cripple the enterprise at a time when the primary object of Congress was to advance it.

Cornell University

Further work is in progress.

Diamond and Related Materials

Such work is in progress.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This work is in progress.

Plosone

The work is in progress.

BMC Biotechnology

Further experimental work is in progress.

ChemPhysChem

Such developmental work is in progress.

Acta Orthopaedica

Construction work is feverish.

The Economist

Construction of five systems was in progress.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A-B-C

Cloepfil started work on his design while the legal struggle to preserve the building was in progress, but in 2005 the preservationists lost in court, and construction began.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing ongoing construction, ensure your verb tense is consistent. For instance, if you start with "construction work was in progress", maintain a past tense throughout the sentence or paragraph.

Common error

Be specific about the location or item under construction. Instead of a vague statement like "construction work was in progress", specify "construction work on the new bridge was in progress" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "construction work was in progress" functions as a descriptive statement indicating that building or development activities were actively taking place at a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "construction work was in progress" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that communicates the existence of building or development activities at a point in the past. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is appropriate for describing such situations in news reports, scientific articles, or general informational contexts. Although not exceedingly common, it serves as a clear and direct way to convey that construction activities were ongoing. Alternative expressions, such as "construction activities were underway" or "building operations were ongoing", can offer variations in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

construction activities were underway

Replaces "work was in progress" with a more formal synonym, "activities were underway".

building operations were ongoing

Substitutes "construction work" with "building operations" and "in progress" with "ongoing", offering a slightly more professional tone.

the site was under construction

Reorders the sentence to emphasize the location being under construction, slightly changing the focus.

site development was in motion

Changes "construction work" to "site development" which is appropriate in certain contexts, and replaces "in progress" with "in motion".

erection work was proceeding

Replaces "construction" with "erection" and "in progress" with "proceeding", providing a formal alternative focused on the act of erecting structures.

development was happening on the site

Uses "development" instead of "construction work" and rephrases the sentence to emphasize the action.

building was being constructed

Focuses on the act of building, replacing the original phrase with a more direct description.

construction labor was ongoing

Focuses on the labor aspect of the construction.

they were building

Simplifies the phrase to its most basic form, suitable for informal contexts.

they were doing construction

Uses more informal language to describe the work being done.

FAQs

How can I use "construction work was in progress" in a sentence?

You can use "construction work was in progress" to describe a situation where building or development activities were actively taking place. For example: "Due to safety concerns, the area was closed off because "construction work was in progress"".

What are some alternatives to "construction work was in progress"?

Alternatives include "construction activities were underway", "building operations were ongoing", or "site development was in motion". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is it correct to say "construction work is in progress"?

Yes, "construction work is in progress" is correct when describing a current situation. The past tense, "construction work was in progress", is appropriate when referring to a past situation.

What's the difference between "construction work was in progress" and "construction work is underway"?

"Construction work was in progress" describes an activity that was happening in the past, while "construction work "is underway"" describes an activity that is currently happening. They are very similar in meaning but differ in tense.