onerous duties

USAGE SUMMARY

"onerous duties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate duties that are burdensome or difficult to fulfill. For example, "The onerous duties of the job caused me a great deal of stress and anxiety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Officials have repeatedly talked of slapping a luxury tax on the purchase of new jets, on top of existing onerous duties and taxes.

The Economist

Sports stars are flattered on campus, avoid many of the onerous duties other midshipmen must perform, and know they're not going to be thrown out.

The New York Times

Four heads would do it, I think – two for Silk Road, two for TP's, to relieve them all of their onerous duties.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But in his twilight years Castro appeared to enjoy stepping back from the onerous duties of the presidency, if not the limelight.

The Guardian

But if he can shoulder some of the DCI's more onerous duties, including the president's briefing and the intelligence budget, he might free a dynamic CIA director to wield the axe for him.

The Economist

Fatou, the west African servant of the Derawal family in upscale Brondesbury Park, concludes that "she did not think she was a slave" despite the withheld passport and elusive wages; the onerous duties and the casual insults.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Why not give Handel's "Messiah" a break from its onerous duty as the requisite piece for the Christmas season and let "L'Enfance du Christ" take over for a while?

The New York Times

J.S.P., posted on nytimes.com My wife and I discussed this article, and we determined that sex should be an onerous duty, undertaken only a few times, for the express purpose of creating the next generation.

The New York Times - Magazine

Choreographers working in German municipal theaters are expected to provide "dance" wherever it is required -- operas, plays, operettas; many consider it an onerous duty, the price for having an ensemble and a budget.

The New York Times - Arts

The next year of his life found Albert once again appointed to an onerous duty.

SEP

After performing this onerous duty (to a completely empty room), the gavel comes down again, and the session is closed.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing roles or positions, use "onerous duties" to accurately convey the demanding and burdensome aspects of the job. This adds depth and realism to your descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "onerous duties" when the tasks are simply routine or require minimal effort. This phrase implies a significant burden and should be reserved for truly demanding responsibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onerous duties" functions as a noun phrase, where "onerous" is an adjective modifying the noun "duties". It describes responsibilities that are burdensome or difficult. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "onerous duties" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is an effective way to describe tasks or responsibilities that are burdensome and demanding, commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific and formal business contexts. While not as frequent as other phrases, it accurately conveys the intensity and difficulty associated with specific obligations. Related phrases like "demanding responsibilities" and "burdensome tasks" offer alternatives to express similar ideas. When using this phrase, ensure the duties truly warrant the description of being a heavy burden to maintain accuracy and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cumbersome responsibilities

Synonymous replacement, keeping the meaning virtually unchanged.

demanding responsibilities

Replaces "onerous" with "demanding", emphasizing the high level of effort required.

burdensome tasks

Substitutes "duties" with "tasks" and "onerous" with "burdensome", highlighting the heavy load involved.

taxing obligations

Replaces "duties" with "obligations" and "onerous" with "taxing", stressing the draining nature of the responsibilities.

heavy responsibilities

Replacing the term "onerous" to indicate a great weight of duty.

difficult assignments

Uses "difficult assignments" instead of "onerous duties", focusing on the challenging nature of the tasks.

arduous tasks

Replaces "onerous" with "arduous", indicating tasks that are strenuous and hard to endure.

grueling tasks

Focuses on the exhausting nature of the assigned work.

formidable obligations

Highlights the intimidating aspect of the duties.

challenging assignments

Emphasizes the difficulty and need for skill in completing the duties.

FAQs

How can I use "onerous duties" in a sentence?

You can use "onerous duties" to describe tasks that are burdensome and difficult to perform. For example, "The "onerous duties of the job" led to high levels of stress among the employees".

What are some alternatives to saying "onerous duties"?

Alternatives include "demanding responsibilities", "burdensome tasks", or "taxing obligations", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "onerous duty" instead of "onerous duties"?

While grammatically correct, "onerous duty" refers to a single, burdensome task, whereas "onerous duties" refers to multiple tasks. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the number of responsibilities being described.

What makes a duty "onerous"?

A duty is considered "onerous" when it is particularly burdensome, difficult, or stressful to perform, often requiring significant effort and time.