discrete task

USAGE SUMMARY

"discrete task" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a task that is defined as separate from other tasks. For example, "We had five discrete tasks to complete before the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Arithmetic is a discrete task, and should be supported by discrete rather than continuous actions.

Columbia University

Sub-Activity: Sub-Activity is dependent on Activity and tracks a discrete task within an Activity.

Harvard University

You could send articles you discover online to Instapaper or Evernote, read them later offline, then treat sharing as a discrete task, perhaps at a specific time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At that time, I thought of healing as a discrete task with a definite endpoint, a line item I could check off on my mental health to-do list.

The New York Times - Health

The design of an API is a discrete task that is finished once the API is fully specified and released to users.

API Design for C++

Often, the only trait "applications" have in common is the fact that they are created from software code and designed to perform a discrete task or set of tasks.

Application Performance Management (APM) in the Digital Enterprise Managing Applications for Cloud, Mobile, IoT and eBusiness

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It introduces different multi-tasking environments, their design, and advantages of partitioning a system into discrete tasks.

Real-Time Systems Development

The visual test battery consisted of five discrete tasks.

Nature

Work should be deconstructed from permanent positions and assigned roles to discrete tasks and objectives.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mondale's principal insight was that a Vice-President could be more effective as a "general adviser" to the President than as someone who was given discrete tasks.

The New Yorker

The robot is usually programmed by humans to perform discrete tasks in the assembly process, but this time, something went wrong.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When dividing a large project, break it down into smaller, more manageable "discrete tasks" to improve focus and efficiency.

Common error

Avoid defining tasks that are not truly "discrete"; ensure each task has a clear beginning and end to prevent confusion and duplicated effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discrete task" functions as a noun phrase, where "discrete" modifies the noun "task". It serves to specify the type of task being referred to, emphasizing its distinct and independent nature. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discrete task" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a distinct and separate assignment. Ludwig AI shows it appearing across diverse fields, from science and academia to news and business. To enhance clarity and focus in project management, it is useful to break down large projects into smaller, well-defined "discrete tasks". Alternatives like "separate assignment" or "independent task" can provide similar meaning while altering the emphasis slightly. Ensure tasks are truly discrete to avoid overlap and maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separate assignment

This alternative emphasizes the isolated nature of the task.

independent task

Highlights the self-contained nature of the task, not relying on other tasks.

distinct task

Emphasizes the task's unique and easily distinguishable characteristics.

individual task

Focuses on the task being performed by a single person or entity.

self-contained task

Highlights the task's ability to be completed without external dependencies.

isolated task

Stresses the task's lack of connection to other activities.

specific task

Emphasizes the clear definition and purpose of the task.

particular task

Highlights the task's unique and individualized nature.

defined task

Focuses on the clear boundaries and scope of the task.

unit task

Implies the task is a single, indivisible element of a larger project.

FAQs

How can I use "discrete task" in a sentence?

You can use "discrete task" to describe a specific, separate assignment, such as, "Each team member was assigned a /s/discrete+task for the project".

What's a good substitute for "discrete task"?

Depending on the context, you could use "separate assignment", "independent task", or "distinct task".

Is it better to assign many small "discrete tasks" or fewer larger ones?

It depends on the project and team, but breaking down work into smaller, more "discrete tasks" can often improve focus and track progress more effectively.

In project management, what's the advantage of defining "discrete tasks"?

Defining "discrete tasks" allows for clear allocation of responsibilities, better tracking of progress, and easier identification of potential bottlenecks.