heap of work

USAGE SUMMARY

"heap of work" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use this phrase when you are describing an abundance of a certain kind of task. For example, "I have a heap of work to do this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"They did a heap of work on those boats," the officer said.

The Guardian

A heap of work for myself to complete this story; a still-muddled understanding of how News Feed works; and a slightly different view of what I think I care about.

The Washington Post

A heap of work awaited him.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In competitive industries you almost always need more: a master's (maybe), heaps of work experience (probably), and critically, contacts.

The Guardian

With heaps of work still to do, a roof and furniture to build, a kitchen to install, Janne and Jackie are not particularly concerned.

Huffington Post

The University and College Union, which represents academics, said Warwick and Queen Mary's plans would have to be "considered carefully" to ensure they did not lead to "the heaping of more work on already hard-pressed staff".

The Guardian

It's a dead duck on the dust heap of Department for Work and Pensions disasters.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I dragged him out from under the heap of his own work in prose he was buried alive under," said Frost.

The Guardian - Books

Out of the scrap heap came a pair of work boots in which the laces have been replaced by neon tubes, a clever allusion to the artist's fusion of work and whimsy.

The New York Times

They include: The line going through the middle of Water Haigh Woodland Park near Woodlesford, formerly an area of spoil heaps where enormous amounts of work had been done to return it to nature.

Independent

The entire research process requires sifting through 3.7 million data points and takes about 5,000 hours of work, says Heaps.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heap of work" when you want to emphasize a disorganized or overwhelming amount of tasks, rather than just a large quantity. It suggests more than just volume; it implies a slightly chaotic situation.

Common error

Avoid using "heap of work" in very formal settings such as academic papers or high-level business reports. While grammatically correct, it can sound too informal. Opt for phrases like "significant workload" or "substantial amount of work" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heap of work" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a considerable quantity of tasks or assignments. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heap of work" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a large amount of tasks. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While generally neutral in tone, it leans towards informality and is more suited for everyday conversation or news articles than for formal academic or business writing. The phrase conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by the quantity of work and is frequently found in contexts like news and media. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "significant workload" or "substantial amount of work" are preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lot of work

A more generic term for a significant amount of effort required.

pile of work

Similar to "heap", emphasizing the accumulation of tasks.

ton of work

Emphasizes the large quantity of work.

load of work

Suggests a burden of tasks to be completed.

mountain of work

Implies a very large and overwhelming amount of work.

large workload

More formal and emphasizes the amount of work assigned.

heavy workload

Similar to "large workload", indicating a significant amount of tasks.

substantial amount of work

A more formal way of expressing a large quantity of work.

considerable amount of work

Similar to "substantial amount of work", indicating a significant quantity.

huge volume of work

Focuses on the sheer quantity of work to be done.

FAQs

How can I use "heap of work" in a sentence?

You can use "heap of work" to describe a large quantity of tasks. For example, "I have a "heap of work" to complete before the deadline".

What's a more formal alternative to "heap of work"?

If you need a more formal phrase, consider using "substantial amount of work" or "significant workload".

Is "heap of work" grammatically correct?

Yes, ""heap of work"" is grammatically correct and commonly used in everyday language.

What is the difference between "heap of work" and "pile of work"?

While similar, "pile of work" and ""heap of work"" both suggest a large amount of tasks. "Heap" may imply a slightly more disorganized or overwhelming sense.