doing a lot of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing a lot of work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about an individual or group taking on a lot of work or responsibility. For example, "My colleagues have been doing a lot of work lately to get the project finished on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We'll be testing and doing a lot of work".

The New York Times - Sports

The Italians have been doing a lot of work there.

The Guardian

The word "primarily" is doing a lot of work there.

The Washington Post

They're doing a lot of work downtown, that's excellent.

The Guardian

The phrase "for example" is doing a lot of work.

The New Yorker

Ian is pursuing a different career right now — he's doing a lot of work for Marriott.

The New York Times

We were doing a lot of work in things like software verification.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I'm the website development leader, and will be doing a lot of work on the site.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This is an area where we are doing a lot of work in IBM.

Stanford University

We're doing a lot of work on it and we'd love to see day-night cricket".

The Guardian - Sport

"I'm doing a lot of work on it so I can keep it in this position.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "doing a lot of work" with specific outcomes or areas of focus to add precision and impact to your writing. For example, "We're doing a lot of work on improving our customer service."

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences in a way that obscures who is performing the work. Instead of saying "A lot of work is being done", specify who is "doing a lot of work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing a lot of work" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe the action of expending considerable effort on tasks. It is often used to indicate that someone is actively engaged in multiple activities or putting in significant effort, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "doing a lot of work" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe expending considerable effort on tasks. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It's versatile, fitting into neutral registers and appearing frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While alternatives exist, like "working hard" or "exerting considerable effort", "doing a lot of work" remains a straightforward and easily understood expression for conveying significant activity and dedication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working hard

A common and direct alternative, focusing on the intensity of the effort.

putting in a great deal of effort

Highlights the energy and attempt put in

working extensively

Focuses on the breadth and intensity of the work being performed.

handling a heavy workload

Emphasizes the amount of assignments one is working on.

exerting considerable effort

Highlights the amount of energy and dedication invested.

laboring intensely

Highlights the difficulty and determination of the undertaken work.

investing significant labor

Emphasizes the input of manpower and resources.

undertaking substantial tasks

Focuses on the size and importance of the responsibilities.

engaging in extensive activity

General phrase indicating a high level of involvement.

devoting much time

Emphasizes the time commitment involved.

FAQs

How can I use "doing a lot of work" in a sentence?

You can use "doing a lot of work" to describe someone or a group making considerable effort to accomplish something. For example, "The team is "doing a lot of work" to meet the deadline."

What are some alternatives to "doing a lot of work"?

Alternatives include "working hard", "exerting considerable effort", or "investing significant labor", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "doing a lot of work" or "doing much work"?

"Doing a lot of work" is generally preferred in contemporary English. "Doing much work" is grammatically correct but sounds slightly more formal or old-fashioned.

When is it better to use "doing a lot of work" versus "handling a heavy workload"?

"Doing a lot of work" emphasizes the effort being made, while "handling a heavy workload" focuses on managing a large quantity of tasks. Use "handling a heavy workload" when emphasizing the amount of responsibility.