professional pursuit

USAGE SUMMARY

'professional pursuit' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to any type of professional activity or goal that someone is trying to achieve. For example: "John devotes a great deal of time and energy to his professional pursuit of becoming a successful business owner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Now Chris Evans has taken his professional pursuit to the genteel countryside of Hampshire.

The Guardian

Which is not to say he disdained conventional forms or the theater as a professional pursuit.

The New York Times

Ray felt that a novelist was a person who had dedicated his or her life to the pursuit — the professional pursuit — of the art form.

The New Yorker

The more that Americans bent soccer to fit their ideas of fair play, the less they thought of the sport as a serious professional pursuit.

The New Yorker

A blowsy prostitute (Deirdre O'Connell) is numb to sex, but she cannot give up the professional pursuit of it even when she no longer must ply her trade.

The New York Times

I'm also privileged enough to have a job that sometimes allows me to turn a personal frustration into a professional pursuit.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

If you are at work, explain that it is not proper to discuss controversial subjects in the workplace because there's a line to be drawn between personal views and professional pursuits, and you would like to focus on maintaining professionalism.

WikiHow

That's important across all professional pursuits.

The Washington Post

She shares Mr. Lagerfeld's passion for art, photography and furniture design and multiple professional pursuits.

The New York Times

Some believed these professional pursuits would have ended for Daly a long time ago.

The Guardian - Sport

"Most intellectual and professional pursuits," he writes, "have come easily to me".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "professional pursuit", ensure the context clearly indicates a sustained effort or dedication towards a specific career-related goal. For example, "Her dedication to medicine demonstrates her commitment to a lifelong "professional pursuit"".

Common error

Avoid using "professional pursuit" to describe a completed achievement. Instead, use it to refer to the ongoing process or ambition. For instance, say "His "professional pursuit" is becoming a lead engineer" rather than "His "professional pursuit" was winning the award".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "professional pursuit" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It describes a sustained effort or ambition related to one's career, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "professional pursuit" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe an ongoing effort towards achieving career-related goals. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts including news, academia, and science. While versatile, it's important to use it to refer to active ambitions rather than completed achievements. Alternatives such as "career path" or "occupational goal" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Always consider the context to ensure the most appropriate and accurate expression of your intended message regarding the "professional pursuit".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Professional endeavor

Replaces "pursuit" with a more general term for an undertaking.

Occupational goal

Emphasizes the desired outcome or achievement in one's profession.

Career path

Focuses more on the progression and direction of one's professional life.

Professional ambition

Highlights the level of aspiration in a professional context.

Career aspiration

Emphasizes the ambition and desire associated with one's professional goals.

Professional calling

Implies a strong sense of purpose and dedication to one's profession.

Vocational aim

Highlights the specific skill or trade one is pursuing professionally.

Field of expertise

Emphasizes the area of specialized knowledge and skill.

Area of specialization

Focuses on a particular area of expertise within a profession.

Line of work

A more general term referring to the type of job someone does.

FAQs

How can I use "professional pursuit" in a sentence?

You can use "professional pursuit" to describe someone's dedication to their career goals. For example: "Becoming a doctor is her lifelong "professional pursuit"".

What are some alternatives to "professional pursuit"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "career path", "occupational goal", or "professional endeavor".

Is "professional pursuit" formal or informal?

"Professional pursuit" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it leans slightly towards the formal side due to the word "pursuit".

What is the difference between "professional pursuit" and "hobby"?

A "professional pursuit" is something you aim to make a career out of, whereas a hobby is a recreational activity done for pleasure and not necessarily for financial gain.