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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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let's work on

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"It's always, 'I'm pressing.' It's never, 'Let's work on your swing.' Am I pressing?

"I say, 'Let's work on it until it's not.'".

News & Media

Forbes

I think Clinton would have understood, "No, that's not where people's heads are, let's work on jobs and on their houses.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Let's work on these aspects and then by the end of second week, it's definitely is a lot better after we have had multiple discussions and pointed out where we can improve.

Let's work on that".

News & Media

The New Yorker

Let's work on changing it.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Ladies of all political persuasions: Let's work together on what we agree on!

News & Media

Huffington Post

Let's work together on this.' "The thing about Anna Stepanovna," he went on, "was that she'd started going after all of them personally.

News & Media

The New Yorker

To take a step back... - How is your home life? - Let's discuss thoughts on career life balance - College and application help - Let's work together on your resume - Let's go to a movie or shoot some hoops.

News & Media

Huffington Post

So let's work together on really pushing what more we can do".

News & Media

The New York Times

Mr. Barroso seemed disinclined to continue the debate after lunch, saying, "Let's put this behind us, let's work now on substance".

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional feedback, use this phrase to pivot from a critique to a constructive, shared solution.

Common error

Avoid using "let's work on" when you intend for the other person to complete the task alone. Since it is a contraction of 'let us', it implies a shared responsibility. If you are assigning a task, use a more direct instruction like 'please work on'.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let's work on" functions as a first-person plural imperative. It combines the hortative 'let's' (let us) with the phrasal verb 'work on', typically followed by a noun phrase or a gerund. According to Ludwig AI, it is consistently used to initiate a shared effort or to focus attention on a specific area of development.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "let's work on" is an essential idiomatic phrase for any writer looking to express cooperation and focus. Analysis from Ludwig indicates that it is widely accepted across prestigious publications, including The New York Times and The New Yorker, where it appears in contexts ranging from political negotiations to sports coaching. Whether you are using it to transition between ideas or to suggest an improvement, the phrase remains a grammatically correct and pragmatically powerful choice for both spoken and written English. For more specific contexts, consider using alternatives like "let's focus on" to narrow your scope or "let's tackle" for more difficult challenges.

FAQs

How do I use "let's work on" in a sentence?

You can use it to suggest a joint activity, such as "Since we have the data, "let's work on" the presentation together."

What can I say instead of "let's work on"?

Depending on your goal, you could use "let's focus on", "let's improve", or "let's collaborate on".

Is "let's work on" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, while it contains a contraction, it is perfectly acceptable in professional emails, journalism and collaborative reports to suggest a path forward.

What is the difference between "let's work on" and "let's deal with"?

While "let's work on" suggests a process of improvement or creation, "let's deal with" often implies handling a problem, a conflict or a chore that might be unpleasant.

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Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: