laborious reading

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "laborious reading" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to the act or process of reading that is difficult, tedious, or requires a lot of effort. Example: "Studying for my biology exam was made even more challenging by the laborious reading of complex scientific articles."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

The Guardian

Brain and Language

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A reviewer of the French edition wrote that repetitive nature of the stories detracted from the manga's appeal, and made for a "laborious" reading experience, although the reviewer felt that a "romantic" reader would not mind this.

Wikipedia

While I was aware of the long hours and laborious reading that was involved in a law degree, I was oblivious to the world that lay beyond graduation.

The Guardian

The authors argued that slow and laborious reading together with impairments in motor skills were symptomatic of problems in "proceduralisation" of learned knowledge.

Brain and Language

In combination, severe deficits in visual speed and span should therefore result in a very slow and laborious reading process with longer fixations and shorter saccades, precisely what is found in patients with pure alexia (Behrmann et al. 2001).

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Laborious to read about, too: descriptions of her technical minutiae, and of the formal topographies of her paintings, accurate though they may be, can be as indigestible as the prose of a car-repair manual.

The Guardian

Microscopic reading of the plates turned out to be laborious and quite difficult to standardize between observers who were reading the test.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

No, worse: "Trapped in a Fez factory," read the laborious fruits of my labor.

The New York Times - Arts

When he picked up the theme, researchers certainly knew that genes contained the instructions for protein assembly; some had found a way – laborious and inaccurate – to "read" a DNA sequence; and others had begun attempts to "map" certain genes to particular chromosomes.

The Guardian

We slightly wince, on behalf of those more tightly bound to laborious necessity, when we read that "to maintain one's self on this earth is not hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely", and that "by working about six weeks in a year, I could meet all the expenses of living".

The Guardian - Books

Authoring a systematic review involves an intensive laborious process, typically involving: reading of upwards of a thousand abstracts; locating and reading of hundreds or more full papers; and assembling these into a structured document suitable for researchers and clinicians.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Anyone who has spent time reading plays has his own favorite stage directions, from Shakespeare's "Exit, pursued by a bear" to Eugene O'Neill's laborious line-by-line descriptions to the gauntlet-dropping stagecraft challenges of Sarah Kane and Antonin Artaud.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the act of reading, use "laborious reading" to emphasize that the process is difficult, time-consuming, and requires significant effort.

Common error

Avoid using "laborious reading" when a simpler term like "difficult reading" or "challenging reading" would suffice. Reserve "laborious" for situations where the effort involved is exceptionally high.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laborious reading" functions as an adjective-noun combination where "laborious" modifies the noun "reading". This describes a specific quality of the reading process, indicating that it requires significant effort. Ludwig's examples show it being used in contexts describing study, learning difficulties, and technical documents.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "laborious reading" describes a reading process that is difficult and requires substantial effort. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. While "laborious reading" is relatively rare, it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and wiki sources, suggesting a neutral to formal tone. Alternative phrases like "difficult reading" or "tiresome reading" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. To use "laborious reading" effectively, reserve it for situations where the effort involved is exceptionally high, and consider simpler alternatives for more common contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Difficult reading

Replaces "laborious" with a more common synonym.

Tiresome reading

Substitutes "laborious" with "tiresome", emphasizing the draining aspect of the reading.

Strenuous reading

Replaces "laborious" with "strenuous", highlighting the effort required.

Tedious reading

Changes "laborious" to "tedious", focusing on the monotonous nature of the reading.

Arduous reading

Uses "arduous" in place of "laborious", suggesting a particularly challenging reading experience.

Demanding reading

Replaces "laborious" with "demanding", emphasizing the intellectual requirements.

Exhausting reading

Substitutes "laborious" with "exhausting", focusing on the energy depletion.

Time-consuming reading

Focuses on the length of time it takes to complete the reading.

Effortful reading

Highlights the amount of effort required for reading.

Painstaking reading

Suggests a careful and detailed approach due to the difficulty.

FAQs

What does "laborious reading" mean?

The term "laborious reading" describes a reading process that is difficult, time-consuming, and requires significant effort.

What are some alternatives to "laborious reading"?

You can use alternatives such as "difficult reading", "tiresome reading", or "strenuous reading" depending on the context.

How can I use "laborious reading" in a sentence?

You might say, "The complex scientific articles made for a very "laborious reading" experience," or "Slow and "laborious reading" can be symptomatic of underlying learning difficulties."

Is "laborious reading" formal or informal?

While the term "laborious" itself can be used in both formal and informal contexts, the phrase "laborious reading" often appears in more formal writing, such as academic papers or news articles. Simpler alternatives might be preferred in casual conversation.