only makes work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only makes work" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be used in contexts discussing the effects of something that contributes to work or effort, but it needs additional context to be meaningful. Example: "The new policy only makes work more complicated for the employees."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science & Research

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Alongside other reforms to the tax system, rises in child benefit and income support, the WFTC not only makes work pay but also marks a step on the road towards the target announced by the prime minister of ending child poverty in a generation.

The Guardian

They will have a global network of opportunities to select from, which not only makes work more interesting, but also brings new challenges that will allow these professionals to develop their careers more rapidly.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

On whether his work is autobiographically inspired, Clark says, "some people say you only make work about yourself".

The Guardian

The artists only make work because we're able to raise money for them to do so.

The Guardian

This raised the question – although I was reluctant to add to the quacking – of how Fred West, a successful builder, committed any acts of violence at all, what with the devil only making work for idle hands.

Independent

One of the hardest things Nick Hytner said to me was, 'You're only making work for money.' I looked at him and thought: just even begin to understand what territory you're heading into to with a woman in this situation.

The Guardian

"I was only making work for other artists and friends.

Vice

Barlow stressed the exhibition would not be saying gay artists only made works that reflected their same-sex desire, but it would be showing works engaging with those issues – for example, Duncan Grant's 1911 homoerotic painting Bathing, a gorgeous panorama of seven muscular male nudes painted as part of a decorative scheme for Borough Polytechnic at the Elephant and Castle in London.

The Guardian - Arts

To their delight, the scientists found that the transgenic rice not only made working ferritin, but stored three times more iron than normal rice, exclusively within the seeds.

Science Magazine

For Labour, shadow chancellor Ed Balls said that "simply telling people 'they have never had it so good' will only make working people feel politicians are out of touch with their lives".

BBC

What adherents to this approach don't understand is that such laws only make working conditions much more dangerous for sex workers and do very little to curb the demand for commercial sex.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "only makes work", ensure the context clearly indicates what is creating the additional work and why it is undesirable.

Common error

Avoid using "only makes work" without specifying what action or situation is causing the increased workload. The phrase is weak if the cause is not explicit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only makes work" acts as a predicate, describing the effect of something by indicating it increases effort or workload. Ludwig AI points out that this construction lacks clarity and needs additional context. Example: 'shutting down such online websites only makes sex work more dangerous'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only makes work" is used to describe something that increases effort or workload. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically questionable and lacking clarity, recommending more specific alternatives. It appears infrequently, primarily in news and general contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what's creating the additional workload and why it's undesirable. Consider using phrases like "just creates more work" or "simply adds to the workload" for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just creates more work

This alternative directly states the action of creating additional work.

simply adds to the workload

Focuses on the result of increasing the amount of work.

only complicates matters

Shifts the focus to making things more complex rather than just adding more work.

merely increases the effort

Highlights the increase in required exertion.

only makes things more difficult

Emphasizes the increased difficulty as a result.

just exacerbates the problem

Focuses on worsening an existing issue.

adds unnecessary burden

Highlights the creation of an additional and unwanted load.

contributes to more work

More directly states the contributing factor to increased work.

unnecessarily increases labor

Focuses specifically on the increase in labor required.

compounds the effort

Highlights the cumulative effect on the required effort.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "only makes work"?

You can use alternatives like "just creates more work", "simply adds to the workload", or "only complicates matters" depending on the context.

Is "only makes work" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "only makes work" is not considered grammatically correct and lacks clarity in written English. While it may appear in some contexts, it's often better to use clearer alternatives.

How can I use "only makes work" in a sentence?

While not recommended, you could use it in a sentence like: "The new policy only makes work more complicated for the employees." However, consider rephrasing for better clarity.

What does "only makes work" mean?

The phrase suggests that something is causing an increase in effort or workload. However, it's often vague and requires additional context to fully understand the intended meaning. Using a more specific phrase is generally preferable.