looks laborious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks laborious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or activity that appears to require a lot of effort or hard work. Example: "The project looks laborious, but I believe the results will be worth the effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Lifestyle

Books

Arts

Opinion

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It's obviously a labour of love, but it never looks laborious.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The labor was never meant to look laborious.

The New York Times - Books

But the movie is naturally forced to maintain at understandable, but disproportionate length the various plot dénouements, without which the storyline does not quite make sense, but which with this kind of emphasis look laborious and exposed.

The Guardian

It doesn't look too laborious.

Huffington Post

The latter, by contrast, looks much more laborious and appears less graceful.

The Guardian

By comparison, America's laborious process looks rather attractive.

The Economist

One method, using a "pricking iron", which looks like a fork, is laborious and hard to get straight; the other uses a "pricking wheel" – like a pastry edger – which zips along neatly but is much less satisfying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's also the opposite effect, in which fantasyland is made to look boring, even laborious.

The Guardian - Film

The cut-up photograph is a feat of virtuoso improvisation, nodding toward Matisse and turning a laborious process into something that looks as light as snow or butterfly wings.

The New York Times - Arts

It looks like what it is: a pedantic and laborious imitation.

The Guardian - Arts

The color-match wallpapers add to the charm of the overall package, and that's likely to appeal to customers who just want a device that looks great out of the box and doesn't require any laborious customization.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looks laborious" when you want to emphasize the perceived effort or difficulty of a task based on its appearance. It's useful for describing processes or activities that seem more complicated or demanding than they actually are.

Common error

Avoid using "looks laborious" if you know for a fact that the task is easy or simple. The phrase should be used when the appearance suggests difficulty, not when you have direct knowledge of the task's true nature.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks laborious" functions as a descriptive phrase, where "looks" acts as a linking verb and "laborious" is an adjective describing the apparent nature of something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and used to describe tasks or activities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Film

20%

Arts

15%

Less common in

Tech

10%

Opinion

8%

Lifestyle

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looks laborious" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to describe something that appears difficult or effortful. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Film, and Arts. When using this phrase, make sure you're accurately reflecting the perceived difficulty, rather than making a statement about the actual effort required. Consider alternatives like "seems strenuous" or "appears difficult" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears difficult

Uses a more general term "difficult" to describe the apparent challenge.

seems strenuous

Replaces "laborious" with "strenuous" focusing on the demanding nature of the task.

looks challenging

Focuses on the perception of the task as a challenge.

seems arduous

Emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved, using the word "arduous".

seems demanding

Emphasizes the high requirements and expectations of the task.

appears taxing

Highlights the demanding or burdensome nature of the task.

appears to require effort

Directly states the apparent need for exertion.

appears to be hard work

More explicitly describes the task as involving significant effort.

seems like a struggle

Indicates the task appears to involve difficulty and resistance.

looks like a grind

Suggests a tedious and laborious activity.

FAQs

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

You can use "looks laborious" to describe something that appears difficult or requires a lot of effort. For example: "The project "looks laborious", but it might be simpler than it seems."

What's the difference between "looks laborious" and "is laborious"?

"Looks laborious" implies that something appears difficult, while "is laborious" states that something actually requires a lot of effort. The appearance might be deceiving.

What can I say instead of "looks laborious"?

You can use alternatives like "seems strenuous", "appears difficult", or "seems arduous" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "looks laboriously"?

No, "looks laboriously" is not grammatically correct. "Laboriously" is an adverb and would not typically modify the verb "looks" in this context. "Looks laborious" is the correct phrasing.