noble work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "noble work" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or action that is virtuous, honorable, or morally good. Example: "The volunteers spent the day doing noble work, helping to rebuild homes for those affected by the natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is noble work.

Independent

It's pretty noble work, when you think about it.

Independent

I support your desire to do noble work.

University of California, Berkeley

He proposes a noble work for the novel.

The Guardian - Books

Painting was noble work, but it seemed suddenly elitist and restricted.And slow.

The Economist

She closed, "If you can get students to reading, you will have done a noble work".

The New York Times - Books

Yet there is one such band of brothers that does noble work.

The Economist

Bush always seemed to see campaigning as the unpleasant prelude to the noble work of governing.

The Washington Post

Consider Dennis Bergkamp's noble work for Holland against England in 1993 (1min 46sec in this clip).

The Guardian - Sport

THE 1892 building at 105 Hudson Street is an uncommonly noble work for an industrial district.

The New York Times

And then there are the crude roll-down steel gates from the 1980s, a sad indignity for a noble work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "noble work", ensure that the context clearly supports the attribution of moral excellence. Overuse in less deserving situations can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "noble work" to describe routine or mundane tasks. This diminishes its impact and can sound insincere. Reserve it for genuinely significant and morally commendable efforts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "noble work" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'noble' modifies the noun 'work'. It's used to describe an activity or endeavor characterized by high moral principles and virtuous intent. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

15%

HuffPost

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Los Angeles Times

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "noble work" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that describes activities characterized by high moral standards. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is used across a variety of contexts, with a higher frequency in news and media, as well as academic settings. When you are looking for alternatives, consider options such as "honorable endeavor" or "virtuous undertaking". Be mindful of the potential for overuse and ensure the context warrants the attribution of moral excellence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

honorable endeavor

Replaces "work" with "endeavor", suggesting a concerted effort towards a specific goal.

virtuous undertaking

Substitutes "noble" with "virtuous" and "work" with "undertaking", emphasizing the moral quality of the task.

admirable feat

Changes both words to highlight the praiseworthy and skillful nature of the achievement.

worthy cause

Replaces "noble work" with a phrase that emphasizes the deserving nature of the purpose being pursued.

commendable achievement

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect, describing it as deserving praise.

meritorious activity

Uses more formal language to denote an action deserving reward or recognition.

exemplary service

Highlights the provision of outstanding help or assistance.

altruistic contribution

Emphasizes the selfless nature of the contribution being made.

principled action

Highlights that the deed aligns to moral principles.

righteous deed

Emphasizes the moral correctness and justness of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "noble work" in a sentence?

You can use "noble work" to describe an activity or effort that is morally good or virtuous. For instance, "Volunteering at the homeless shelter is a noble work".

What are some alternatives to saying "noble work"?

You can use alternatives such as "honorable endeavor", "virtuous undertaking", or "worthy cause" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "noble work" formal or informal?

"Noble work" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts when describing morally commendable actions, though more formal alternatives like "meritorious activity" might be preferred in highly formal settings.

What distinguishes "noble work" from just "good work"?

"Noble work" implies a higher moral or ethical dimension compared to simply "good work". While "good work" might refer to competence or effectiveness, "noble work" specifically denotes actions that are virtuous and morally upright.