most of the working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "most of the working" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to "most of the working population" or "most of the working hours," but as it stands, it lacks clarity and completeness. Example: "Most of the working population is now working remotely due to the pandemic."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

His defence: "For most of the working week my wife and I are in London.

The Guardian

For most of the working poor who attend the church, it is also the only vacation.

The New York Times

I could (and I probably do) spend most of the working day on email.

The Guardian

Most of the working population, however, is employed in the city of Belfast, making North Down essentially a residential and recreational district.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most of the working wells are in rural areas, though Ms. Westhues found one in a vacant lot in Gary, with tire tracks and footprints around it.

The New York Times

Once it has been budgeted for, grant proposals written or fee schedules set to cover its purchase, kit costing millions of dollars can sit idle for most of the working day.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

She does most of the work".

The New York Times

Volunteers do most of the work.

The New York Times

Our imaginations do most of the work.

The Guardian

Most of the work is less glamorous.

The New York Times

O'Sullivan does most of the work.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, clarify the noun you are referring to. For example, instead of saying "most of the working," say "most of the working population" or "most of the working day" to provide necessary context and improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase without specifying what you are referring to. Saying "most of the working" without mentioning 'population', 'day', or another noun leaves the sentence incomplete and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most of the working" functions as a determiner and pre-modifier needing a noun to complete its meaning. As Ludwig AI points out, it lacks clarity in its current form and requires a noun to be grammatically correct. Examples use it to describe "population", "wells", or "day".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "most of the working" is frequently used but grammatically incomplete without a clarifying noun. As Ludwig AI indicates, it lacks clarity on its own and needs additional context to be correct. It commonly appears in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. To use it effectively, always specify the noun you're referring to, such as "population", "day", or "hours". Alternatives like "majority of the workforce" or "most of the employed" may provide better clarity in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

majority of the workforce

More specific, referring to the total number of workers, making it more grammatically sound.

most of the work hours

Refers to the duration of labor activity, providing a more specific context.

the majority of working

Replaces "most" with "the majority", maintaining a similar sense of quantity. However, the grammatical problem still persists.

the bulk of working hours

Focuses on the largest part of the time spent working.

most of the employed

Substitutes "working" with "employed" to refer to the population with jobs, but still needs more context to be grammatically sound.

major part of the employed

Refers to a significant portion of individuals who are employed.

predominantly employed

Indicates the main occupation status of a group or region.

largely the working

Similar in meaning but still grammatically incomplete, requiring additional context.

most active workers

Focuses on the workers who are highly engaged in their profession.

the highest proportion of working

Highlights the biggest segment of the working population, but still needs context.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "most of the working" in a sentence?

To use "most of the working" correctly, add a noun to clarify its meaning. For example, "most of the working population" or "most of the working day" makes the sentence grammatically sound and clear.

What are some alternatives to "most of the working"?

Alternatives include "majority of the workforce", "most of the employed", or "most of the work hours", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "most of the working" without adding a noun?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The phrase requires a noun to specify what you are referring to, such as "population", "day", or another relevant term.

What's the difference between "most of the working population" and "most of the workforce"?

"Most of the working population" refers to a large segment of people who are able to work, while "most of the workforce" refers to the majority of people currently employed. The phrases are similar, but the nuance depends on whether you're discussing labor potential versus current employment.