making a living

USAGE SUMMARY

'making a living' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act or process of earning money through work. For example, "John was having difficulty making a living, so he decided to find a second job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Finally, they were making a living.

The New Yorker

"But I'm not making a living".

The New York Times - Arts

I'm making a living at this.

The New York Times

That's making a living".

The New York Times - Sports

"Are they making a living?

The New York Times

We were making a living.

The New York Times

"She's happy I'm making a living somehow".

The New Yorker

Easy way of making a living".

The New York Times - Sports

And we are making a living".

The New York Times - Magazine

MAKING a living as a fisherman has never been easy.

The Economist

"I'm not against people making a living or prospering.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing professions or industries, use "making a living" to emphasize the economic aspect of the work, rather than simply stating the job title.

Common error

Avoid using "making a living" when you want to describe pursuing a passion project that may not be financially rewarding. "Making a living" implies a focus on financial sustainability, not necessarily personal fulfillment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making a living" functions as a verbal phrase that describes the action of earning enough money to sustain oneself. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, from describing a common way of life to discussing the challenges of specific professions. The AI analysis confirms it as grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making a living" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe how someone earns enough money to support themselves. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using the phrase, remember that it emphasizes financial sustainability rather than personal fulfillment, and it's important not to confuse it with simply “"getting rich"”. Alternatives like "earning a livelihood" can provide a more formal tone, depending on your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earning a livelihood

This alternative focuses on the means of support and sustenance.

making ends meet

This emphasizes the struggle of covering expenses with income.

sustaining oneself financially

This highlights the ability to support oneself through financial means.

earning one's keep

This suggests earning what is needed for basic necessities.

providing for oneself

This underscores the act of supplying one's own needs.

being self-supporting

This emphasizes independence and financial autonomy.

having a source of income

This is a more general way of expressing the availability of financial resources.

working for a salary

This refers to a specific method of earning money through employment.

deriving an income

This alternative focuses on the derivation or source of the income.

making money

This is a simpler, more direct way of saying earning money.

FAQs

How can I use "making a living" in a sentence?

You can use "making a living" to describe how someone earns money to support themselves. For example, "She's "making a living" as a freelance writer".

What's a more formal way to say "making a living"?

A more formal alternative to "making a living" is "earning a livelihood", which emphasizes the idea of securing the necessities of life through one's work.

Which is correct, "making a living" or "make a living"?

"Making a living" is the present participle form, often used in continuous tenses or as a gerund. "Make a living" is the base form, used in the infinitive or simple present tense. For example, "It's hard to "make a living" as an artist", but "He is "making a living" by selling his paintings".

Is "making a living" the same as "getting rich"?

No, "making a living" simply means earning enough money to support oneself, while "getting rich" implies accumulating a significant amount of wealth.