presently working

USAGE SUMMARY

"presently working" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a formal way to say that something is happening now. Example: She is presently working on her master's thesis.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Todd Field, director of the 2001 Oscar-nominated drama In the Bedroom, is presently working hard to crack Blood Meridian.

The Guardian - Film

I'm an urban planner, presently working as a freelance consultant specialising in community development and neighbourhood planning.

The Guardian

And there are 35 million Americans – 26% of the workforce – presently working for less than US$10.55 an hour.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms Cargile, who is presently working as Ms Stewart's personal assistant, also works as a visual effects and film producer.

Independent

Gaspard Koenig, a French politician presently working in London, thanked The Economist for doing the job of the French media.

The New York Times

So why not copy the way nature innovates, speed it up and use it to help solve some of the problems researchers are presently working on.

The Economist

After learning of the bombing, Picasso said, "The painting that I am presently working on will be called 'Guernica.' Through it, I express my abhorrence of the race that has sunk Spain in an ocean of pain and death".

The New York Times - Arts

Sohail, who is presently working as director of the country's national cricket academy, will be joined on the committee by the PCB's human resources director, the former Test wicketkeeper Wasim Bari, plus the board's domestic cricket director, Sultan Rana.

The Guardian - Sport

"The current search could be expanded to include two new sites in the coming days," the police source said, adding that this request by Scotland Yard could be expedited and use manpower presently working at Praia da Luz.

The Guardian

As well as touring, I'm presently working on scripts for three movies, a musical version of my film The Infidel, a sitcom for Channel 4, a new panel show for Radio 4, a children's book, a drama for ITV and one episode of the soon-to-be-rebooted Thunderbirds.

The Guardian

I spoke last week to someone who has worked for all of Microsoft, Apple and Google (though presently working for none of them), who noted that unlike the other two companies, in Google the attitude is that "it's software on the web.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "presently working" to indicate a current activity or employment, especially in formal or professional contexts. For example, "She is presently working on a new project" conveys a sense of ongoing effort.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "presently working" in very informal conversations can sound overly formal or stilted. In such cases, consider using simpler alternatives like "currently working" or "working now".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "presently working" functions as a present participle phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a current state of employment or activity. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "presently working" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase suitable for describing current employment or ongoing tasks. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a present participle phrase, often found in formal contexts such as science, news media, and business communications. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where a more formal tone is appropriate, with simpler alternatives like "currently working" or "now working" being preferable in casual settings. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times underscores its acceptance in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presently employed

A more formal synonym emphasizing current employment status.

currently employed

Focuses more on the state of being employed at the moment.

actively working

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the work being done.

now working

A simpler and more direct way to express current work activity.

actively engaged

Highlights the active involvement in a task or occupation.

at work now

Indicates the state of being at work at the present time.

in current employment

Highlights the current employment situation of a person.

right now working

Emphasizes the immediacy of working at this very moment.

currently operating

Suitable when referring to the functioning of a system or business.

currently in progress

Focuses on the ongoing process rather than just working.

FAQs

How can I use "presently working" in a sentence?

You can use "presently working" to describe someone's current job or a task they are currently performing. For example, "He is "presently working" as a software engineer" or "She is "presently working" on a research project.

What's a more formal alternative to "presently working"?

While "presently working" is already quite formal, you could use "presently employed" for an even more formal tone, focusing on the employment status.

When is it appropriate to use "presently working"?

It's appropriate in formal contexts like professional emails, reports, or academic papers. It conveys a sense of current activity in a serious or professional manner.

Are there any situations where I shouldn't use "presently working"?

In casual conversations or informal writing, "currently working" or "now working" might be more suitable. "Presently" can sound overly formal in those contexts.