serious work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to tasks or projects that require significant effort, focus, or professionalism. Example: "The team is currently engaged in serious work to develop a new software application that meets industry standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He did serious work, however.

The New Yorker

Serious work lies ahead.

The New York Times

It's serious work.

The New York Times - Sports

It was doing some serious work".

The New Yorker

It's a serious work in progress.

The New York Times - Sports

You don't need any serious work.

The New Yorker

There would be serious work to do.

The New Yorker

Anatomies is a serious work.

The Guardian - Books

The waterfront needs serious work.

The Guardian - Money

Braatz also developed a serious work ethic.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Vieira has serious work to do.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serious work" to convey the importance and dedication required for a task. For instance, when describing a complex research project or a critical business initiative, using "serious work" effectively communicates the level of commitment involved.

Common error

Avoid using "serious work" in informal or lighthearted situations. Overusing the phrase can make your communication sound overly formal or even pretentious, especially when a simpler description would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious work" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "serious" modifies the noun "work". It indicates that the work being discussed is of significant importance or requires substantial effort, as exemplified in many instances found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious work" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase employed to emphasize the importance, difficulty, or dedication required for a task or undertaking. According to Ludwig, the phrase is acceptable in written English, and its meaning is easily understood across a range of contexts. It is particularly common in news, academic, and formal business settings, signaling the significance of the effort involved. While versatile, it should be used judiciously in informal contexts to avoid sounding overly formal. When considering alternatives, phrases like "substantial effort" or "challenging assignment" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific aspect you wish to highlight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantial effort

Emphasizes the amount of effort required, rather than the nature of the task.

significant project

Focuses on the importance and impact of the work.

considerable undertaking

Highlights the scale and ambition of the task.

important endeavor

Highlights the purpose and value of the work.

challenging assignment

Focuses on the difficulty and demands of the task.

demanding labor

Highlights the physical or mental exertion required.

intensive task

Emphasizes the focused and concentrated nature of the work.

real responsibility

Highlights accountability and importance.

meaningful pursuit

Emphasizes the personal significance and fulfillment derived from the work.

heavy workload

Focuses on the quantity of work to be done.

FAQs

How can I use "serious work" in a sentence?

You can use "serious work" to describe tasks that require significant effort and dedication. For example, "Completing this project will involve a lot of serious work" or "The new policy requires serious work from all departments".

What are some alternatives to "serious work"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "substantial effort", "considerable undertaking", or "challenging assignment".

Is "serious work" appropriate for both formal and informal contexts?

"Serious work" is generally more suitable for formal and professional contexts. In informal settings, simpler phrases like "hard work" or "important task" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "serious work" and "hard work"?

"Hard work" generally refers to the amount of effort, while "serious work" implies the importance and the level of dedication required. "Serious work" often suggests that the task is critical or consequential.