provide work for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide work for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of giving someone a job or task to complete. Example: "The organization aims to provide work for unemployed individuals in the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nationwide, urban farms provide work for 2,500 adults with learning disabilities.

The Guardian

That said, Hughes intends to provide work for plenty of riders, including some untried youngsters.

The Guardian - Sport

The same docks now provide work for fewer than 150 people.

The Guardian

The restructuring also will provide work for many professional groups other than lawyers.

The New York Times

"We have so much unemployment, and I wanted to provide work for as many people as possible".

The New York Times - Travel

Remploy - whose factories employ thousands of disabled people - was set up in 1946 to provide work for disabled ex-servicemen.

The Guardian

He also wanted to provide work for locals in the depressed former dairy-farming and feed-growing area.

The New York Times - Travel

The workshops also provide work for company administrators and teaching jobs for performers and choreographers while their troupes are on vacation.

The New York Times - Arts

"Cipriani is a vital part of New York City's economy and is proud to currently provide work for nearly 3,000 individuals across the city.

The New York Times

Legion is part of the Royal British Legion Attendants Company Trust, set up in 1923 to help provide work for ex-servicemen and women.

The Guardian - Business

But they provide work for 700,000 people, about one-fourth of the labor force, said James P. Brown, an economist at the State Department of Labor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, specify the type of work being provided (e.g., "provide skilled work for", "provide temporary work for").

Common error

Avoid using "provide work for" when the intention is purely charitable without expecting actual labor in return. In such cases, consider using phrases like "offer assistance to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "provide work for" is that of a transitive verb phrase. It indicates an action (providing) directed towards an object (work) for the benefit of a recipient (someone). Examples in Ludwig show this phrase being used in various contexts, reinforcing its function of indicating the act of supplying employment or tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "provide work for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the act of offering employment or tasks to individuals. As Ludwig AI highlights, its primary function is to describe efforts to generate or supply job opportunities. Predominantly found in news articles, formal business documents, and encyclopedic entries, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. To enhance clarity, consider specifying the type of work. Avoid using it in situations where the intention is purely charitable without expecting work in return. Alternative expressions include "offer employment to" and "create job opportunities for".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer employment to

This alternative emphasizes the formal aspect of offering a job.

create job opportunities for

Focuses on the creation of multiple chances for employment.

generate employment for

Highlights the act of producing or causing jobs to exist.

give jobs to

A simpler, more direct way of expressing the provision of employment.

employ

A concise synonym indicating the act of hiring someone.

take on staff

Emphasizes the addition of personnel to a workforce.

engage the services of

A more formal phrase suggesting a contractual agreement for work.

hire

A common and straightforward term for offering employment.

contract labor to

Focuses on engaging individuals via a contract.

outsource work to

Implies delegating tasks to external entities or individuals.

FAQs

What is the best way to use "provide work for" in a sentence?

Use "provide work for" when you want to express the act of giving employment or tasks to someone, especially when aiming to alleviate unemployment or support a particular group. For example: "The project aims to "provide work for" unemployed youth".

What can I say instead of "provide work for"?

You can use alternatives like "offer employment to", "create job opportunities for", or "generate employment for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "provide work for" or "provide works for"?

"Provide work for" is correct. "Work" in this context is often uncountable, referring to employment or tasks in general. "Works" would typically refer to specific artistic creations or constructions.

What's the difference between "provide work for" and "perform work for"?

"Provide work for" means to give someone a job or tasks to do, while "perform work for" means to do a job or tasks for someone. The first implies an employer-employee relationship, while the second implies a service being rendered.