goes to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"goes to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone heading off to work or when describing their daily routine. For example: "Every morning, Pete gets up early and goes to work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then she goes to work.

The New York Times

In the morning she goes to work.

The New Yorker

He goes to work every day.

The New York Times

The star goes to work on time.

The New York Times

She has leukemia, but goes to work.

The New York Times

It goes to work on your Latin.

The New York Times - Food

He goes to work at Olive Garden.

The New York Times - Books

He is a piano tuner & goes to work.

The New Yorker

Then he goes to work at the firehouse.

The New Yorker

Later, while Raja lolls in bed, Nilu goes to work.

The New York Times - Books

The husband climbs in and goes to work.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "goes to work" to describe a routine action of someone starting their working day or engaging in their job-related activities. It's suitable for describing habits or daily schedules.

Common error

Avoid using "goes to work" to describe abstract processes or inanimate objects beginning to function. For example, instead of saying "The new software goes to work", it's better to say "The new software starts functioning" or "The new software is activated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "goes to work" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of commencing employment or heading to a workplace. Ludwig shows this usage is consistent across numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Wiki

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "goes to work" is a common and correct verb phrase used to describe the action of starting one's job or heading to a workplace. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it’s best to avoid using it in abstract contexts. Alternative phrases such as "starts working" or "begins the workday" may be more appropriate depending on the desired level of formality or specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

starts working

Focuses on the beginning of work rather than the act of going.

commences employment

More formal and emphasizes the act of beginning employment activities.

begins the workday

Highlights the start of a work period.

reports for duty

Often used in military or structured work environments, signifying arrival and readiness.

clocks in

Emphasizes the action of registering the start of work, often in hourly jobs.

heads to the job

Focuses on the physical act of traveling to one's workplace.

is on the job

Highlights the current activity and responsibility being undertaken.

gets down to business

Implies a shift of focus to work or tasks.

applies oneself to the task

Focuses on effort and dedication to the work at hand.

undertakes one's tasks

Formal way to describe engaging in scheduled or expected job activities.

FAQs

What does "goes to work" mean?

"Goes to work" means that someone is heading to their job or starting their workday. It describes the act of commuting to a workplace or beginning job-related activities.

How can I use "goes to work" in a sentence?

You can use "goes to work" to describe someone's daily routine, like "Every morning, she "goes to work" at 8 AM".

What are some alternatives to "goes to work"?

Alternatives include "starts working", "commences employment", or "begins the workday", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "goes to work at home"?

While technically grammatically correct, "goes to work at home" might sound odd. It's clearer to say "works from home" or "starts working at home" to describe someone working remotely.