laboring to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "laboring to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the act of working hard towards a specific goal or task. Example: "She has been laboring to complete her thesis before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Thus "Awakening" showed him laboring to rise from the floor.

The New York Times

Or is it an offense against the person she has spent adulthood laboring to be?

The New Yorker

Nearly a decade after venturing into Europe, Starbucks is still laboring to lure people like her.

The New York Times

It doesn't help that you occasionally find yourself laboring to keep track of who's who.

The New York Times - Books

Ultimately, he is laboring to salvage the legacy of a deeply unpopular war.

The New York Times

Thousands of utility workers are laboring to restore electricity to hundreds of thousands of customers.

The New York Times

So Congress has been laboring to disguise a price increase in a more palatable package.

The New York Times

He was laboring to avoid answering the actual question about pay equity for women.

The New York Times

A growing number of organizations are laboring to create such an environment.

The New York Times

Mr. Aaronson has been laboring to preserve party unity since he was elected chairman in January.

The New York Times

Wright studied Youkilis's at-bat and knew Cabrera was laboring to throw strikes.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "laboring to" when you want to convey a sense of sustained effort or struggle towards a specific goal. It's particularly effective when the effort is visible or palpable.

Common error

Avoid using "laboring to" in overly casual or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or dramatic in contexts where a simpler term like "trying to" or "working to" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laboring to" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing effort or struggle toward achieving a specific outcome. It is often used to describe situations where someone is working hard, sometimes against significant obstacles, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "laboring to" is a versatile verb phrase used to convey a sense of sustained effort and struggle towards a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent appearance in news and media contexts. While suitable for many situations, it's important to consider the context and register, opting for simpler alternatives in casual settings. Alternatives like "striving to" or "working to" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Using "laboring to" effectively involves understanding its implications of sustained effort and difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

striving to

Focuses more on the effort and ambition towards achieving a goal.

endeavoring to

Emphasizes a serious and determined attempt.

working to

A more general term for putting in effort.

attempting to

Highlights the act of trying, possibly with an uncertain outcome.

struggling to

Emphasizes the difficulty and challenge involved.

exerting oneself to

Highlights the personal effort and energy being used.

making an effort to

A more descriptive way of expressing a conscious attempt.

toiling to

Implies a long and arduous effort.

straining to

Suggests pushing oneself to the limit.

grappling to

Describes a physical or mental struggle to achieve something.

FAQs

How can I use "laboring to" in a sentence?

"Laboring to" is used to describe someone making a significant effort, often struggling, to achieve a goal. For instance, "The team was laboring to meet the deadline" indicates they were working hard and likely facing challenges.

What are some alternatives to "laboring to"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "striving to", "working to", or "struggling to". Each conveys a slightly different nuance of effort and difficulty.

Is "laboring to" formal or informal?

"Laboring to" leans towards the formal side. While acceptable in many contexts, simpler phrases might be preferable in very casual settings.

What's the difference between "laboring to" and "trying to"?

"Laboring to" suggests a more intense and sustained effort than "trying to". "Trying to" implies a simple attempt, while "laboring to" indicates a significant investment of energy and persistence. For example, "endeavoring to" is also a good alternative.