on my way to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"on my way to work" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could use the phrase in a sentence such as: "I was stopped at a red light on my way to work this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"There was a real good one on my way to work today".

The New Yorker

Everything changed one day on my way to work.

Huffington Post

I can remember riding down the road one day on my way to work.

Huffington Post

"It was hard to live one block from my school and walk through campus on my way to work.

Huffington Post

"It's on my way to work.

The New York Times

What about the potholes on my way to work?

The New York Times

"I was on my way to work," he recalled.

The New Yorker

I was on my way to work.' It's like Palestinians living in Israel.

The New Yorker

On my way to work, I dropped my wallet on the subway platform.

The New York Times

Or, rather, I did, this morning on my way to work.

The Economist

I'm on my way to work and I feel like I may never use enough Kleenex.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your language. While "on my way to work" is perfectly acceptable, consider using alternatives like "during my commute" or "while traveling to work" to add variety to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "on my way to work" when describing activities that are not directly related to your commute, such as events that happened at home before leaving for work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on my way to work" functions as a prepositional phrase typically used as an adverbial modifier. It indicates the time and location of an action that occurs during the commute to one's workplace, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on my way to work" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to set the scene for events occurring during one's commute. As affirmed by Ludwig, it serves to provide context and specify the timing and location of an action. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both professional and informal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the described events are genuinely related to the commuting period. For variety, consider alternatives such as "during my commute" or "while traveling to work". Make sure to avoid using the phrase when referring to events that are not related to your commute.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during my commute

Focuses on the time spent commuting rather than the direction.

while commuting to work

Highlights the action of commuting, emphasizing the activity itself.

traveling to my job

More general, emphasizing the act of traveling to one's place of employment.

headed to work

Informal, emphasizes the direction and destination.

commuting to the office

More specific, implying a traditional office environment.

en route to work

More formal, indicating being on the directed path to work.

on the commute

Shorter and focuses on the state of commuting.

going to my workplace

More descriptive, specifies the destination as a "workplace".

making my way to work

Emphasizes effort or progression towards reaching work.

in transit to work

Highlights the state of being in the process of traveling.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "on my way to work"?

You can use alternatives like "during my commute", "while commuting to work", or "traveling to my job" depending on the context.

How do I use "on my way to work" in a sentence?

Use "on my way to work" to describe actions or observations that occurred while you were commuting, for example, "I saw an accident on my way to work today".

Is it correct to say "in my way to work"?

No, the correct phrase is "on my way to work". "In my way to work" is not grammatically correct and would not be understood by native English speakers.

What's the difference between "on my way to work" and "at work"?

"On my way to work" describes the period of traveling to your job, while "at work" describes being present and engaged in your job-related activities.