onerous task to undertake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "onerous task to undertake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a task that is burdensome or difficult to accomplish. Example: "Completing the project on time was an onerous task to undertake, given the limited resources available."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ironically however, while construction industry safety regulations and procedures are usually provided in written text form, many workers have low levels of literacy, making reading such texts an onerous, time consuming if not impossible task to undertake (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013).

Video Journal of Education and Pedagogy

He may never do so, however, instead leaving that onerous task to Congress.

Forbes

Three years later I was charged with a different and more onerous task: to write the abstract to my first first-author paper.

Science Magazine

We are right to delegate this onerous task to professionals in law enforcement and the military.

Vice

The NRDPDM database contains 2035 unique domain movements, and it would be an onerous task to analyse all of these conformational pairs using molecular graphics software, for the purpose of assigning hinge and shear mechanisms.

Bioinformatics

Therefore, we would ask the editors to consider the addition of ChIP experiments on heterozygous mice as beyond the scope of this work and too onerous to undertake at this time.

eLife

This is an ambitious and onerous task that we have undertaken.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

The phasing out of HNHAC proved to be an onerous task due to a number of reasons.

Conflict and Health

This is not a task for China to undertake alone.

Forbes

Every month the society struggles to pay its bills, mostly because of the onerous task of having to keep up with taxes.

The Guardian

This is mainly due to the lack of technical capacity to undertake this onerous task.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider placing adjectives before "task" that specify the challenge involved: "the technically onerous task to undertake" or "the financially onerous task to undertake"

Common error

While "onerous" effectively conveys difficulty, overuse can diminish its impact. Vary your vocabulary by using words like "challenging", "demanding", or "difficult" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onerous task to undertake" functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific action or duty that is difficult or burdensome. It emphasizes the demanding nature of the task and the effort required to complete it. Ludwig indicates it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "onerous task to undertake" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe a demanding activity. Despite its correctness, Ludwig examples are missing, indicating that is not frequently encountered in contemporary English. As the word choice is fairly neutral, it can be adapted across a variety of registers. When using this phrase, consider highlighting the specific difficulties associated with the task to maximize its impact and avoid overusing "onerous" to prevent diluting its meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult task to accomplish

Replaces "onerous" with "difficult" and "undertake" with "accomplish", focusing on the challenge of completion.

burdensome task to tackle

Substitutes "onerous" with "burdensome" and "undertake" with "tackle", emphasizing the weight or load of the task.

challenging task to execute

Uses "challenging" instead of "onerous" and "execute" in place of "undertake", highlighting the complexity of carrying out the task.

demanding task to perform

Replaces "onerous" with "demanding" and "undertake" with "perform", stressing the high requirements of the task.

laborious task to fulfill

Substitutes "onerous" with "laborious" and "undertake" with "fulfill", focusing on the effort required to complete the task.

arduous task to complete

Uses "arduous" instead of "onerous" and "complete" in place of "undertake", underscoring the difficulty and length of the task.

formidable task to embark on

Replaces "onerous" with "formidable" and "undertake" with "embark on", emphasizing the daunting nature of starting the task.

taxing task to handle

Substitutes "onerous" with "taxing" and "undertake" with "handle", highlighting the strain the task puts on resources or energy.

grueling task to pursue

Uses "grueling" instead of "onerous" and "pursue" in place of "undertake", stressing the exhausting nature of following through with the task.

strenuous task to engage in

Replaces "onerous" with "strenuous" and "undertake" with "engage in", emphasizing the vigorous effort required by the task.

FAQs

How can I use "onerous task to undertake" in a sentence?

You can use "onerous task to undertake" to describe a job or duty that is particularly difficult or burdensome. For example, "Completing the audit was an "onerous task to undertake", given the tight deadline and limited staff".

What are some alternatives to "onerous task to undertake"?

Alternatives include "difficult task to accomplish", "burdensome task to tackle", or "challenging task to execute", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "onerous task to undertake"?

While "onerous" already implies difficulty, using "to undertake" clarifies that the task is something that must be started or performed. The phrase isn't strictly redundant, but ensure it adds value to your sentence. Consider if a simpler phrasing like "onerous task" suffices.

What makes a task "onerous"?

A task is "onerous" when it is particularly difficult, burdensome, or troublesome. Factors contributing to this might include complexity, time constraints, resource limitations, or the need for specialized skills.