do substantive work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do substantive work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to engaging in meaningful or significant tasks or activities, often in a professional or academic context. Example: "In order to make a real impact, we need to focus on projects that do substantive work in the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"My departure before the term of my contract represents CBS's final acknowledgement, after a protracted struggle, that they had not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work there.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We economists thought that we were doing substantive work and the rest of the world was dross".

The New Yorker

The selection function does substantive work only when A is false.

SEP

As opposed to: Hillary Clinton is doing an amazing job, doing substantive work, and is personally satisfied and happy to boot, so by all means, let's put a stop to that.

Huffington Post

But what about the minorities sitting in the bowels of Covington who are qualified to do substantive legal work?

Huffington Post

"We have to be very vigilant to defend the rights we've won," said Ms. Greenberger, who for two decades has shared the co-presidency of the Center with Duffy Campbell, an arrangement that lets both women do substantive law and administrative work.

The New York Times

Second, if the 'act requirement' is to do any substantive work, we need an account of the concept of 'action' or 'conduct' an account which will also need to deal with such questions as that of criminal liability for omissions (see Hughes 1958; Feinberg 1984: ch. 4), or for statuses such as being drunk or an addict (see Glazebrook 1978): such an account is notoriously difficult to provide.

SEP

"The vast majority of Covington's black attorneys do no substantive work, have no control over their case assignments and no opportunity for advancement.

Huffington Post

In the kind of performance that is routinely called daring, Argento lets loose earsplitting screams and throws her naked body around with abandon, but she does the substantive work quietly, with smoldering stares and chilling whispers of mad intent.

The New Yorker

Despite being created in 2004 as a post-9/11 intelligence reform the board has not done any substantive work until this year, struggling with independence from the White House and persistent vacancies that have left it unable to function as intended.

The Guardian

Every intern wants to do the "real", substantive work of the industry in which they're working, and should have the opportunity to do so.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to show the importance of the work, use "do substantive work" to suggest that efforts contribute significantly to the overall objective.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "do substantive work" is more suitable for formal or professional settings. In casual conversations, consider using simpler phrases like "do meaningful stuff".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do substantive work" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the performance of significant or meaningful tasks. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, with examples showing its application in professional and academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "do substantive work" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of performing meaningful and impactful tasks. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for formal or professional settings, indicating efforts that contribute significantly to a larger objective. While it's commonly found in news and science contexts, various alternatives such as "undertake significant tasks" or "engage in impactful activities" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Keep in mind that in more casual situations, simpler phrases might be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undertake significant tasks

Emphasizes the act of beginning and carrying out important duties.

perform meaningful duties

Focuses on the positive impact and value of the work being done.

engage in impactful activities

Highlights the potential to create a noticeable effect or change.

carry out important assignments

Stresses the importance and assigned nature of the tasks.

conduct significant projects

Highlights the scale and importance of the work as a project.

accomplish considerable tasks

Focuses on the completion of notable and substantial duties.

execute meaningful responsibilities

Emphasizes the execution of duties that hold significant value.

handle significant responsibilities

Focuses on managing and dealing with important obligations.

tackle significant problems

Implies addressing and resolving important issues or challenges.

address important issues

Directly targets the act of dealing with significant matters.

FAQs

How can I use "do substantive work" in a sentence?

You can use "do substantive work" to describe engaging in meaningful or significant activities, often in professional or academic contexts. For example, "The company encourages employees to "engage in impactful activities" that contribute to the community."

What's an alternative to "do substantive work" that I can use?

Alternatives to "do substantive work" include "undertake significant tasks", "perform meaningful duties", or "engage in impactful activities". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "do substantive work" in informal settings?

While grammatically correct, "do substantive work" tends to be more formal. In informal settings, simpler phrases like "do something meaningful" or "do real work" might be more appropriate.

What distinguishes "do substantive work" from "do clerical work"?

"Do substantive work" implies engaging in significant and impactful tasks, while "do "do clerical work"" refers to routine administrative tasks. The former suggests a higher level of responsibility and importance.