find work

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "find work" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to looking for a job or a career. For example: "He was feeling desperate, so he put all of his energy into finding work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Joanna struggled to find work.

The New Yorker

"I'll find work there.

The Guardian

I cannot find work.

The Guardian

We couldn't find work.

The Guardian - Sport

And that means he will find work.

The New York Times

Where Do the Graduates Find Work?

The New York Times

Her mother scrambled to find work.

The New York Times

Now, they can go find work".

The New York Times - Sports

Are they trying to find work?

The Economist

Malaise-weary French people find work.

The New York Times

Mr. Winner initially struggled to find work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "find work", consider the context to determine if a more formal or informal alternative would be more appropriate. For example, in a professional setting, "seek employment" may be preferable to "find work".

Common error

While "find work" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overuse in formal writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "secure employment" or "obtain a position" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "find work" functions primarily as a verb phrase, expressing the action of seeking or obtaining employment. Ludwig AI validates this usage, confirming its grammatical correctness. This phrase often serves as the main verb in a sentence, indicating the subject's efforts to secure a job.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "find work" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for describing the process of looking for employment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and applicable in various contexts. While versatile, consider the register of your writing; more formal alternatives like "seek employment" might be better suited for professional settings. The prevalence of "find work" in news media and general-knowledge contexts like Wiki indicates its broad applicability. To avoid sounding repetitive, it is advisable to use synonyms like "secure employment" or "obtain a position", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

search for work

Emphasizes the active process of searching.

look for a job

More direct and common way to express the action of job searching.

seek employment

Formal alternative to "look for a job".

get a job

A more casual and common way to say find work.

secure employment

Replaces "find" with "secure", focusing on the successful attainment of a job.

land a job

Informal way to say successfully find work.

gain employment

Similar to "secure employment", emphasizing the act of becoming employed.

obtain a position

Uses more formal language for acquiring a job.

become employed

Focuses on the state of being employed rather than the act of finding work.

start working

Indicates the beginning of employment, implying that work has been found.

FAQs

How to use "find work" in a sentence?

You can use "find work" in a sentence to describe the act of looking for a job. For example, "She is actively trying to find work in the tech industry".

What can I say instead of "find work"?

You can use alternatives like "seek employment", "search for work", or "get a job" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "find work" or "finding work"?

"Find work" is generally used as an infinitive or imperative phrase, while "finding work" is the gerund form. "Finding work" is used as a noun. For example, "Finding work in this economy is challenging".

What's the difference between "find work" and "get a job"?

While both phrases express the same general idea, "find work" is slightly more formal than "get a job". "Get a job" is more colloquial and commonly used in everyday conversation.