put in overtime

USAGE SUMMARY

"put in overtime" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to someone who stays at work for longer than their usual hours, either to complete work or to earn extra pay. For example: "If you need to finish the project by the end of the week, you may have to put in overtime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But workers routinely put in overtime in excess of the 36 hours a month permitted under Chinese law, says Mr Lüthje.

The Economist

Earlier this week, after a British newspaper called on readers to mail protests to the Greek government, Greek Embassy employees in London were asked to put in overtime to respond to each complaint individually.

The New York Times

Accommodating these utility crews and the accompanying police escorts that might be required — and whether they work during the night or day, or if they put in overtime — can quickly deplete your bank account.

The New York Times

On Wednesday, Mr. Vallone gathered his workers, and after a moment of silence, he told them he would be asking them to work different jobs, to be flexible and to put in overtime.

The New York Times

By my reckoning, it's a "drip" that would take a shopfloor worker, on a full-time contract, approximately 160 years to earn, if they were willing to put in overtime.

The Guardian - Business

Now comes a possible reason that early risers seek validation from those around them: Management Recruiters International, a large search firm, asserted in a recent press release that people who put in overtime hours before the start of the workday fail to get the same recognition from their bosses as those who stay late.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The Jets gave Barone the ball to thank him for putting in overtime that week.

The New York Times - Sports

They are hiring extra experienced reviewers and putting in overtime on evenings and weekends.

The New York Times

Barreiro's Aram is a working stiff middle-manger, stuck putting in overtime hours without overtime pay.

The Guardian - Film

"Are you putting in overtime or something?" "I'm on the lookout, brother, lookout duty … nothing special.

The Guardian

"Retailers are running extended hours without hiring extra employees or putting in overtime hours," said Burt Flickinger III, the managing director of Reach Marketing, a consulting firm in Westport, Conn.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase in professional contexts to demonstrate dedication or to describe labor conditions objectively.

Common error

Do not say 'put in overtimes'. Overtime is an uncountable noun when referring to the extra time worked. If you need to specify discrete instances, say 'put in several hours of overtime' or 'worked multiple overtime shifts'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put in overtime" functions as a transitive verb phrase. It combines the phrasal verb 'put in' (meaning to contribute or spend time) with the direct object 'overtime'. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to quantify labor effort.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Legal & Government

10%

Less common in

Academic Research

5%

Creative Writing

3%

Personal Blogs

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put in overtime" is a highly effective and grammatically correct way to describe working beyond standard hours. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across elite publications, particularly when discussing labor issues, corporate loyalty and project deadlines. It is versatile enough for both professional reports and informal workplace conversations. For writers, it is important to remember that while the phrase describes the work itself, adding the preposition 'for' ("put in for overtime") changes the focus to the administrative request for payment. Overall, it is a stable, professional idiom that accurately conveys the concept of extra effort in a work environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work extra hours

Direct and descriptive alternative suitable for all contexts.

put in for overtime

Specifically refers to the administrative request for overtime pay.

work late

More informal and focuses on the time of day rather than the contractual overtime.

work beyond schedule

Focuses on the deviation from the agreed-upon contract hours.

log overtime

Emphasizes the formal recording of hours for payroll purposes.

rack up overtime

Suggests accumulating a significant amount of extra hours.

clock extra time

Uses industrial terminology related to time-keeping systems.

extend the workday

A more formal, descriptive way to say hours were added.

burn the midnight oil

An idiom emphasizing late-night work and dedication.

overstay at the office

Focuses on the location and can sometimes imply an unnecessary presence.

FAQs

How do I use "put in overtime" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe employees working extra hours, such as: "The team had to "put in overtime" to meet the project deadline."

What is the difference between "put in overtime" and "put in for overtime"?

While "put in overtime" refers to the physical act of working extra hours, "put in for overtime" refers to the administrative process of claiming payment for those hours.

What can I say instead of "put in overtime"?

You can use alternatives like "work extra hours", "log overtime" or "work late" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "put in overtime hours"?

Yes, adding "hours" is perfectly acceptable and often used for clarity, as seen in Ludwig examples from The New York Times: "Management asserted that people who "put in overtime hours" before the start of the workday fail to get recognition."