painstaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'painstaking' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that requires a lot of time and effort due to its complexity. For example, you can say "The painstaking process of designing the bridge took three years to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Constructing a film narrative, even a dumb one, is painstaking, expensive work, often involving high-priced special effects, or stroking the backs of known faces who can "open".

The Guardian - Film

It may appear that it's not going as fast as people want; the answer is that it's painstaking.

The Guardian

Graham K. Brown, UWA's professor of international development, also went through Lomborg's methods in painstaking detail on his blog and found them largely wanting.

The Guardian

"Diplomacy is painstaking work.

The Guardian

In response, the accord asks banks to say if they are vulnerable to off-balance-sheet vehicles and to stress-test their business.A few weeks of summer turmoil should not undo years of painstaking regulatory work.

The Economist

Indeed, he will be the lowest-cost provider of the kind of risky, painstaking endeavour that lies behind the breakthrough inventions.

The Economist

"You, the social entrepreneurs, the voluntary organisations the people doing the patient, painstaking work on the ground...you stand for love," he told the audience.The Tory leader, in the name of compassionate conservatism, and Mr Blair, in the name of public-service reform, are competing to claim what looks like more or less the same big idea.

The Economist

But among the runners-up was Mr Blair's response to the elegant, painstaking report he had commissioned on electoral reform from a panel under Roy Jenkins.

The Economist

The book is a compilation of painstaking interviews as she parsed, person by person, the conflicts over land, resources and souls.

The Economist

Mitford's forté was reporting, not painstaking prosody.

The Economist

The online discussions in which investors can quiz entrepreneurs are often painstaking.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "painstaking" when you want to emphasize the amount of effort, time, and attention to detail required for a task. For instance, "The restoration was a painstaking process, taking years to complete."

Common error

Avoid using "painstaking" in contexts where a simpler term like "careful" or "thorough" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound overly formal or repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "painstaking" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a process or activity characterized by extreme care and attention to detail. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples provided demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "painstaking" is a versatile adjective used to describe something done with great care, thoroughness, and attention to detail. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The analysis reveals its frequent occurrence in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "painstaking", remember to emphasize the effort and dedication involved in the described activity. While powerful, avoid overuse by opting for simpler synonyms like "careful" or "thorough" where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meticulous

Emphasizes extreme care and precision in details.

thorough

Highlights completeness and attention to all relevant aspects.

diligent

Focuses on persistent and careful effort.

scrupulous

Stresses moral or ethical meticulousness.

conscientious

Highlights a careful and principled approach.

assiduous

Implies constant and close attention to detail.

careful

A general term for taking caution and attention.

attentive

Focuses on giving careful attention to something.

detailed

Stresses the inclusion of many specific elements.

precise

Highlights accuracy and exactness.

FAQs

How can I use "painstaking" in a sentence?

Use "painstaking" to describe a task or process that requires great care, effort, and attention to detail. For example, "The detective conducted a "thorough" investigation of the crime scene".

What are some synonyms for "painstaking"?

Alternatives for "painstaking" include "meticulous", "diligent", and "scrupulous". Choose the synonym that best fits the context of your sentence.

Is "painstaking" an adjective or a noun?

"Painstaking" is primarily used as an adjective, describing a noun. However, it can also function as a noun, referring to the application of careful and attentive effort.

What's the difference between "painstaking" and "careful"?

"Painstaking" implies a higher degree of effort and attention to detail than "careful". While "careful" suggests caution and attention, "painstaking" emphasizes thoroughness and dedication.