it can be laborious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it can be laborious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task or process that requires a lot of effort and time to complete. Example: "While the research process is essential, it can be laborious, often requiring hours of data collection and analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

** "Legends" patiently details the labor of espionage; in turn, the reading of it can be laborious.

The New Yorker

"Legends" patiently details the labor of espionage; in turn, the reading of it can be laborious.

The New Yorker

Home-brewing your own beer is a popular hobby for beer lovers, but it can be laborious, time-consuming and complicated, especially for novices.

BBC

In addition, due to the heterozygous nature of many industrial strains, for some complex phenotypes that are difficult to measure, it can be laborious to identify a haploid descendant that exactly recapitulates the parental phenotype.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But thinking, like common sense, can be laborious: it may lead to looking at both sides of questions.

The New York Times

Redesigning a challenge can be laborious as it might imply obtaining data for a new gold standard and change assumptions that simplified the underlying biology and favored a good challenge formulation.

Bioinformatics

However, this process can be laborious and time-consuming, as it involves genomic DNA isolation, restriction endonuclease treatment, subsequent religation, transformation of religated DNA into an Escherichia coli host, and re-isolation as a plasmid, which is then used as a template in sequencing reactions with primers that read from the plasposon ends into the flanking DNA regions.

Journal of Microbiological Methods

That can be laborious".

The New York Times - Magazine

"And you need to be methodical – some of the examinations can be laborious and time consuming.

The Guardian - Money

Richard Shiff says in the current Tate catalogue that Riley's work "can be laborious to write about".

The Guardian

Entering e-mail addresses with the scroll wheel can be laborious, but if connected to a computer, the addresses can be typed in.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it can be laborious", consider the audience and context. While grammatically correct, it might sound slightly formal in casual conversation. Choose a more common synonym if a less formal tone is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "laborious" too frequently in everyday conversation or informal writing. While technically correct, it can sound stilted or overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "difficult" or "hard" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it can be laborious" functions as a descriptor, indicating that a particular activity or process requires significant effort and time. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The phrase is used to characterize tasks that involve tedious and sustained work.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it can be laborious" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe tasks that require significant effort and time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not the most common expression, it is versatile enough for various contexts, though may sound slightly formal in casual conversation. Consider synonyms like "challenging" or "difficult" for less formal settings. Its presence across news, scientific articles and encyclopedias indicates a broad applicability but remember that overuse may sound unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it can be arduous

Replaces "laborious" with "arduous", emphasizing the difficulty and strenuousness of the task.

it can be demanding

Shifts the focus to the high requirements and expectations of the task.

it can be taxing

Highlights the draining effect of the task on one's energy or resources.

it can be painstaking

Emphasizes the need for extreme care and attention to detail, often making the process slow and difficult.

it can be cumbersome

Suggests the task is unwieldy and difficult to manage or carry out efficiently.

it can be onerous

Indicates the task is burdensome and imposes a heavy obligation.

it can be grueling

Highlights the exhausting and intensely difficult nature of the task.

it can be strenuous

Focuses on the effort and energy required to complete the task.

it can be challenging

Broadly indicates the task presents difficulties and requires effort to overcome.

it can be tough

A more informal way of saying the task is difficult and requires effort.

FAQs

What does "it can be laborious" mean?

The phrase "it can be laborious" means that something requires a lot of effort, time, and attention to complete. It suggests the task is not only difficult but also requires sustained and often tedious work.

How to use "it can be laborious" in a sentence?

You can use "it can be laborious" to describe processes, tasks, or activities that demand significant effort. For example, "Data entry "can be laborious" if the information isn't well-organized."

What can I say instead of "it can be laborious"?

You can use alternatives like "it can be arduous", "it can be demanding", or "it can be challenging" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "laborious" a formal word?

Yes, "laborious" is generally considered a more formal word compared to synonyms like "difficult" or "hard". While perfectly acceptable in many contexts, consider your audience when choosing between "difficult", "hard", and "laborious".