set aside work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set aside work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of temporarily putting work on hold or prioritizing other tasks. Example: "I need to set aside work for a few hours to focus on my personal projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Meanwhile, the council had to squeeze in or set aside work on Congo, Sierra Leone, Macedonia and East Timor.

The New York Times

Several of the organizers, who set aside work and the demands of family, said it was time to return to their former lives.

The New York Times

Set aside work time every week to give back to the community that supports you and treat it as seriously as you do your business: do not skimp, do not cut corners.

Huffington Post

A generous policy on bereavement leave says a company understands that devastation accompanies grief and recognizes that an employee needs to set aside work in order to manage personal feelings and issues during this most difficult time.

Huffington Post

Set aside work gloves or gardening gloves to protect hands while moving.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

That required teams of Smithsonian employees to set aside works in progress, and the early closing of a Woody Guthrie folk music exhibition, a decision that prompted his daughter Nora Guthrie to accuse Mr. Small in writing of a breach of contract.

The New York Times

Counterintuitive as it may seem, a growing body of research suggests that setting aside work to take breaks actually increases our productivity.

Huffington Post

Two Supreme Court vacancies prompted aides to set aside most work on lower judgeships.

The New York Times

With its hypnotic score, stupendous performances and its superb monochrome cinematography by Robby Müller, it is something to set aside early work by David Lynch and Spike Lee.

The Guardian - Film

Almost all the training undertaken by G4S recruits involves computer simulations, with only a small period set aside to work on the machines themselves.

The Guardian

The plan was for Assange to set aside his work and allow Gittoes, an old family friend, to paint his portrait.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning your schedule, deliberately "set aside work" time for unexpected tasks or urgent matters, ensuring you're not overbooked and can handle emergent issues without disrupting your core projects.

Common error

Avoid using "set aside work" as a justification for consistent procrastination or avoidance of important tasks. While temporarily pausing work is sometimes necessary, ensure it doesn't become a pattern of neglect that undermines your productivity and responsibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set aside work" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the temporary postponement or interruption of work activities. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to describe the act of prioritizing something else over current work tasks. The provided examples show it in various contexts, like prioritizing community service or dealing with personal matters.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "set aside work" is a phrasal verb used to describe the act of temporarily postponing or interrupting work, as described by Ludwig AI. It is often used when needing to prioritize other tasks, attend to personal matters or simply take a break. The phrase carries a neutral tone and is most frequently found in news and media, as well as in wiki and science sources. While grammatically correct, it's important to use it judiciously and not as an excuse for procrastination. Alternatives like "postpone work" or "put work on hold" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone work

Focuses on delaying the work to a later time.

put work on hold

Emphasizes a temporary suspension of work.

suspend work

Highlights a formal or official interruption of work.

interrupt work

Suggests a sudden or unexpected break in work.

take a break from work

Implies a short, often informal, pause in work.

de-prioritize work

Highlights reducing the importance of work relative to other tasks.

shelve work

Suggests putting work aside for a potentially long or indefinite period.

table work

Means to postpone discussion or action on work.

cease work

Indicates a complete stop to work.

discontinue work

Focuses on permanently stopping the work.

FAQs

How can I use "set aside work" in a sentence?

You can use "set aside work" to indicate temporarily pausing work for another activity. For example, "I need to "set aside work" to attend the meeting".

What does it mean to "set aside work"?

To "set aside work" means to temporarily stop working on a task, project, or job, often to focus on something else that is more pressing or requires immediate attention.

What are some alternatives to "set aside work"?

Alternatives include "put work on hold", "postpone work", or "suspend work", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to "set aside work"?

It's appropriate to "set aside work" when you need to prioritize another task, manage urgent issues, or take a necessary break to avoid burnout and maintain productivity.