get it working

USAGE SUMMARY

'get it working' is a perfectly valid sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of making something (for example, a machine or a computer program) operational and functioning. For example: "We need to get this machine working as soon as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But could I get it working?

The Guardian

They took less than a year to get it working.

The New York Times - Tech

Minsky ordered one and managed to get it working, but it kept blurring.

The New Yorker

He said it could take a week to get it working smoothly.

The New York Times - Science

But we weren't afraid to try it out and get it working".

The Guardian - Tech

"It cost the Thai company the best part of half a billion to get it working.

The Guardian - Business

The technicians can then take steps to get it working again.

The New York Times

"Computer science culture is based on, build it, get it working and fix it later.

The New York Times

His father disappeared years ago after inventing the mechanism of time travel and failing, crucially, dramatically, to get it working.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

So hopefully we get it worked out".

The New York Times - Sports

"I can imagine them saying: Let's see we if can get it work.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "get it working", ensure the context is clear. Specify what "it" refers to, especially if the surrounding text doesn't make it obvious. For example, "We need to get the new software working by Friday."

Common error

Avoid using "get it working" in highly formal or professional documents. Opt for more precise and technical language like "ensure functionality" or "establish operational status" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get it working" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used in an imperative or infinitive sense. It expresses the action of making something functional or operational. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

12%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "get it working" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the process of making something functional. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous real-world examples. While broadly applicable, it leans toward neutral to informal registers, being frequently found in News & Media. When writing, ensure that the context is clear and consider more formal alternatives like "ensure functionality" or "establish operational status" for professional documents. Remember that while "get it working" conveys the general idea, a more technical phrase might be more appropriate depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get it operational

Similar meaning, emphasizing the operational aspect.

get it going

Similar meaning, but can also imply starting a process or activity.

make it operational

Focuses on the act of making something ready for operation; more formal.

make it function

Highlights the act of enabling functionality; slightly more formal.

render it functional

More formal and technical; emphasizes the process of making something capable of functioning.

bring it online

Implies connecting something to a network or system; specifically related to digital systems.

set it up

Focuses on the initial configuration and preparation of something for use; less about troubleshooting.

enable it

Focuses on providing the means or opportunity for something to work; often used in technical contexts.

fix it

Implies repairing something that is broken; focuses on the act of repairing rather than making functional in the first place.

sort it out

Implies resolving a problem or issue; less specific to making something functional.

FAQs

How can I use "get it working" in a sentence?

You can use "get it working" to describe the process of making something functional or operational. For example: "I spent the whole day trying to "get it working", but I still couldn't figure out the problem."

What's a more formal way to say "get it working"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "make it operational", "ensure functionality", or "establish operational status".

Which is correct, "get it working" or "getting it working"?

Both "get it working" and "getting it working" are correct, but they serve different grammatical functions. "Get it working" is an imperative or infinitive phrase, while "getting it working" is a gerund phrase, often used as a noun. The choice depends on the sentence structure.

What can I say instead of "get it working" to sound more technical?

To sound more technical, you could use phrases like "render it functional", "enable it", or "bring it online", depending on the specific context.