cumbersome work

USAGE SUMMARY

"cumbersome work" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to work that is difficult, complicated, or burdensome. Example: "The new project was filled with cumbersome work, requiring endless meetings, extensive research, and tedious data analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Even so, the impact of higher labour costs and more cumbersome work rules should not be underestimated.

The Economist

But if unions demand above-market pay and impose cumbersome work rules, unionised firms will gradually lose market share to non-unionised competitors.

The Economist

Zimad Mohallil was converted into convenient cream form by adding minimum additives and benefits could be achieved without any hassle and cumbersome work, which is encountered in crude or paste form.

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine

But it's been a cumbersome work to add new artists to the website.

TechCrunch

The Spinoza Letters is a cumbersome work, its disjointed composition indicative of the haste with which it was put together.

SEP

Using the 246 FUNYBASE SCPCH avoids to systematically perform the cumbersome work needed to re-extract single-copy orthologous genes among the large amount of gene models available in each fungal genome and allows to directly target well-annotated and phylogenetically informative genes [4], [7].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

However, most of the existing methods involve toxic metal ions and solvents, have high costs, use corrosive reagents, and have cumbersome work-up procedures.

International Nano Letters

However, a considerable disadvantage of this method is the somewhat cumbersome work-up of the aqueous reaction mixture in order to isolate the product for its further use [ 146].

BioMed Research International

However UNICEF can sometimes be cumbersome when working or supporting work directly with beneficiaries, Finding 2: Overall, the activities, outputs and programme model are relevant to reaching the planned outcomes.

Unicef

For Mr. Quinto and his law firm in Los Angeles, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, representing the Academy, like any other client, means a lot of cumbersome legal work.

The New York Times

While they represented a great improvement over zinc fingers, however, TALENs are large proteins that are cumbersome to work with and deliver into cells.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing work, use "cumbersome work" to clearly convey the difficulty, complexity, and burden involved in performing the task.

Common error

While "cumbersome work" is appropriate when highlighting the burdensome nature of a task, avoid overuse. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "laborious effort" or "demanding assignment" to enhance your writing's impact and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cumbersome work" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "cumbersome" modifies "work". As Ludwig AI explains, it describes the work's difficult, complicated, or burdensome nature. The phrase effectively highlights the challenging aspects of the task at hand.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cumbersome work" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe work that is difficult, complicated, or burdensome. As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase effectively conveys the challenging aspects of a task. While appropriate in various contexts, especially in news, science, and formal settings, it's advisable to vary your vocabulary with synonyms to maintain writing impact and avoid repetition. Usage examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist confirm its relevance and proper application in formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burdensome task

Replaces "work" with "task" emphasizing a specific assignment that is heavy to bear.

difficult undertaking

Substitutes both "cumbersome" and "work" to highlight the challenging nature of a project.

laborious effort

Replaces "cumbersome" with "laborious", focusing on the extensive effort required.

tedious activity

Emphasizes the monotonous and time-consuming aspect of the work.

complicated procedure

Highlights the complexity and intricacy of the work involved.

demanding assignment

Focuses on the high demands and requirements of the work.

challenging endeavor

Replaces the original phrase to focus on the stimulating but difficult nature of the work.

complex operation

Rephrases to focus on work that requires handling multiple elements and careful management.

unwieldy process

Shifts emphasis to how the work can be difficult to manage or control due to its size or complexity.

tough job

Replaces both words with more informal terms while retaining a similar meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "cumbersome work" in a sentence?

You can use "cumbersome work" to describe tasks that are difficult and complicated, such as: "The project involved a lot of "cumbersome work", including data entry and complex analysis."

What are some alternatives to "cumbersome work"?

Alternatives include "laborious effort", "demanding assignment", or "difficult undertaking", depending on the specific context you want to emphasize.

Is "cumbersome work" formal or informal?

"Cumbersome work" is generally considered neutral to formal. It is suitable for professional and academic writing. However, for very informal settings, you might choose a simpler phrase like "tough job".

What makes work "cumbersome"?

Work becomes "cumbersome" when it involves complicated procedures, excessive paperwork, or outdated methods that make it difficult to manage and execute efficiently. The term highlights the burden and inefficiency associated with the task.