disturb his work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disturb his work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to interrupting or causing a disruption to someone's tasks or responsibilities. Example: "Please do not disturb his work while he is focused on completing the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"As long as it doesn't disturb his work — " "But his work is involved," Alter interrupted.

The New Yorker

I can't match it with the man who, Jane insists, banned even the Saltwood archers from practising beneath his window lest they disturb his work.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ilya Ehrenburg, a fellow-Jew and a journalist with survival skills superior to the provocative Babel's, first mentions his old friend in his memoirs in a passage on games that writers play: "Isaak Babel used to hide from everybody, not because people would disturb his work but because he loved the game of hide-and-seek".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Of course he endured it all, but he didn't want it to disturb his creative work.

The Guardian - Music

The same is true in his private life as it is in his professional one: disagreements disturb his total commitment to his work.

Independent

BE AWARE that if he's concentrating on his work do not disturb his studies.

WikiHow

Shavit lost his enthusiasm for the project after being conscripted into the Israeli army in 1973; he was left profoundly disturbed by his work evacuating battlefield casualties during the short-lived but bloody Yom Kippur war.

The Guardian - Music

She recalled how solicitous he was of her, how reluctant he was to disturb her work.

The New Yorker

In January Tomlinson told an Israeli newspaper: 'We didn't want to disturb Manbar in his work.

The Guardian

He knows the bomb can destroy everything we hold valuable and he gets a sense of fear that disturbs him in his work.

The New Yorker

His work disturbs, amuses and then splinters in the mind.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone not to "disturb his work", specify the time frame or circumstances during which the person needs to concentrate to avoid misunderstandings.

Common error

While grammatically correct, repeatedly using "disturb his work" in formal documents can sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "interrupt", "hinder", or "impede" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disturb his work" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where 'disturb' acts as the verb, 'his' is a possessive pronoun, and 'work' is the noun acting as the object of the verb. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "disturb his work" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to indicate an interruption or disruption to someone's work. While not extremely common, the phrase appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media sources. When using this phrase, consider the potential for repetition and explore synonyms to maintain clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interrupt his work

Replaces "disturb" with "interrupt", focusing on breaking the continuity of the work.

disrupt his work

Uses "disrupt" instead of "disturb", emphasizing a disturbance that throws the work into disorder.

hinder his work

Substitutes "disturb" with "hinder", suggesting an obstruction or delay in progress.

interfere with his work

Employs "interfere with" to indicate an unwanted involvement that affects his work.

impede his work

Replaces "disturb" with "impede", which means to delay or prevent something by obstructing it.

obstruct his work

Uses "obstruct" to suggest the work is being blocked or made difficult.

disrupt his workflow

Focuses on the process of his work being disturbed, rather than the work itself.

break his concentration

Shifts the focus to the impact on the person's ability to concentrate on his work.

prevent him from working

This phrase actively suggest stopping someone from working.

hamper his progress

This suggests that his work progress is being impeded.

FAQs

What does "disturb his work" mean?

The phrase "disturb his work" means to interrupt or disrupt someone while they are performing their job or tasks. It implies causing a hindrance or distraction that affects their concentration or progress.

What can I say instead of "disturb his work"?

You can use alternatives like "interrupt his work", "disrupt his work", or "hinder his work" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "disturb his work" or "interrupt his work"?

Both "disturb his work" and "interrupt his work" are acceptable. "Interrupt" might be a slightly more direct and common way to express the idea of breaking someone's concentration, but the best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

How can I politely ask someone not to disturb someone else's work?

You could say, "Please avoid disturbing his work at this time," or "Could you please refrain from interrupting him while he's working?" Be sure to explain the importance of not creating a distraction.