for subsistence working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for subsistence working" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey the idea of working for basic survival or livelihood, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "Many people in rural areas engage in subsistence farming for subsistence working to support their families."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In rural areas of no electricity like this community, the total time available for subsistence working is governed by daylight hours, usually about 11 h in this season (sunrise at about 7 00 am and sunset at about 18 30).

American Journal of Human Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

People travel to meet their needs for subsistence (to go to work, to acquire food and essential services), for personal development (to go to school and cultural facilities), and for entertainment (to participate in or watch sporting events, to visit friends).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Early treatment with antibiotics is effective; however, this involves daily oral and intramuscular injection at distant health facilities for 56 days making it a challenge among poor rural folks living on daily subsistence work.

BMC Public Health

Unpaid work can include domestic work, care work, subsistence work, unpaid market labor and voluntary work.

Wikipedia

This also took caretakers away from their daily subsistence work.

BMC Public Health

High PAL throughout the year ranging on average 2.0 and 2.2 was attributable to everyday tasks for subsistence and domestic works undertaking over 9 11 h (men spent 2.7 h on agricultural work and 4.7 h on animal herding, whereas women spent 7.3 h almost exclusively on animal herding).

American Journal of Human Biology

Most families in the study site were subsistence farmers working long hours in their chacras (fields).

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Once again we were part of a culture in which people killed what little meat they ate (Bolivia enjoyed seeing the chicken head in her bowl of soup), wore clothes for protection rather than fashion, and worked for subsistence, not status.

The New York Times

Second, the evidence of what works for subsistence workers is limited.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Minor league umpires work long hours for subsistence wages, hoping for the chance to move up to the majors.

The New York Times

Under it, an impecunious new arrival would sign on with a landowner for a period of service commonly seven years binding him to work in return for subsistence and sometimes for the repayment of his passage money to the ship captain who had taken him across the Atlantic (such immigrants were called "redemptioners").

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing how people secure basic necessities, use established phrases like "for subsistence" or "to earn a living" instead of the less common "for subsistence working".

Common error

Avoid treating "subsistence" as a verb. It's a noun, so use it to describe the purpose or means, not the action itself. Instead of saying someone is "subsistence working", describe them as "working for subsistence" or "engaged in subsistence activities".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for subsistence working" attempts to link purpose and action, but functions awkwardly due to non-standard usage. Ludwig AI indicates it's not correct in standard written English. The intended function, however, seems to be describing the reason or aim behind one's labor.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "for subsistence working" aims to describe labor undertaken to secure basic survival, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English alternatives like "working for subsistence", "for basic survival", or "to earn a living" are preferred. The phrase appears infrequently, mainly in scientific and news contexts, and should be avoided in formal writing. When discussing this concept, focus on established and grammatically sound alternatives to clearly convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for subsistence purposes

Replaces "working" with "purposes", focusing on the intention or goal of subsistence.

to earn a subsistence

Emphasizes the act of earning, shifting the focus from the working process.

to make a living

A common idiom that means to earn enough money to support oneself.

for survival

Focuses solely on the act of surviving, omitting the explicit mention of "working".

to support oneself

Highlights the self-sufficiency aspect of earning a livelihood.

to sustain life

A more formal way of saying "to survive", emphasizing the continuation of life.

for livelihood

Replaces the verb with a noun indicating the means of supporting oneself.

to eke out an existence

Implies a struggle to survive with very limited resources.

to scrape by

Suggests surviving on very little, often involving hardship.

to keep body and soul together

An idiomatic expression for maintaining basic survival.

FAQs

What is the best way to describe working to meet basic needs?

Instead of "for subsistence working", use phrases like "for subsistence", "to earn a living", or "to support oneself" to clearly convey the idea of working to meet basic needs.

Is "for subsistence working" grammatically correct?

No, "for subsistence working" is not standard English. It's better to say "working for subsistence" or "for subsistence purposes".

What are some alternative ways to express "for subsistence working"?

Consider using phrases like "for basic survival", "for livelihood purposes", or simply "to make a living".

How does "working for subsistence" differ from "subsistence farming"?

"Working for subsistence" is a general term for any work done to survive, while "subsistence farming" specifically refers to farming primarily to feed oneself and one's family.