severe work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe work" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be interpreted as referring to work that is intense or demanding, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "The project required severe work, pushing the team to their limits."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Here, for my friend Steven Schick, the great percussionist, I composed another radically severe work, "The Mathematics of Resonant Bodies," for solo percussion and "aura".

The New Yorker

Severe work on silicon thin film solar cells including design and fabrication has been focused by scientific community.

Nanoscale Research Letters

report no significant differences in the unconditional probability of enduring a less severe accident by nativity, but immigrants endure a higher probability of experiencing a severe work accident.

IZA Journal of Migration

Severe work impairment can be present for a considerable proportion of the course of bipolar disorder (BD) and is costly for governments, services and individuals.

Journal of Affective Disorders

The hardness of damage rail is higher than that of new rail due to severe work hardening and plastic streamline deformation.

Engineering Failure Analysis

The authors use cross-sectional data on severe work injuries and illnesses from the 2006 Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales (MCVL) –a Social Security database that collects data on natives and legal immigrants.

IZA Journal of Migration

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

In addition, payments for people in the support group, who have the most severe work-limiting health conditions and disabilities, will be maintained at the current level".

The Guardian

Meanwhile, much of the savings in the renegotiated union contracts come from severe work-force reductions: the police department is down to 90 sworn officers from 155 in 2003, and the fire department was slashed from 122 people and 8 firehouses to 70 people and 5 firehouses.

The New York Times

Severe works by famous masters that might not have had an easy ride in earlier times of artistic abundance soared to astonishing heights.

The New York Times - Arts

These pipelines may experience severe working environments and significant deformations during their service life.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

The high trafficking of female workers, harassment, and severe working conditions faced by females at the destination country may de-motivate other females to migrate.

IZA Journal of Development and Migration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of a condition or situation on employment, consider using "severe work impairment" or "severe work disability" for greater clarity and precision.

Common error

While "severe work" is understandable, it can be vague. Replace it with more specific language detailing the nature of the work or the severity of its impact, like "demanding labor" or "work leading to severe strain".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe work" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "severe" modifies the noun "work". It often acts as a subject or object in a sentence, denoting work that is intense, difficult, or has serious implications. As Ludwig AI hints, the phrase's broad nature calls for careful deployment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "severe work" is a grammatically sound but not always precise phrase used to describe work that is particularly demanding, intense, or has significant negative consequences. While technically correct, as Ludwig AI reports, its broader meaning often benefits from being replaced by more descriptive alternatives like "demanding labor" or "intense job". Its usage spans across scientific, news, and some formal contexts. For greater clarity, especially when describing the impact on health or productivity, consider using "severe work impairment" or "severe work disability".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demanding labor

Replaces 'severe' with 'demanding', focusing on the high effort required.

arduous task

Substitutes both words, emphasizing the difficulty and strenuous nature.

intense job

Highlights the high level of activity or pressure involved.

difficult assignment

Focuses on the challenging nature of the work.

challenging undertaking

Emphasizes the complexity and effort required to complete the task.

strenuous activity

Highlights the physical or mental exertion involved.

taxing endeavor

Focuses on the depleting or burdening aspect of the work.

grueling occupation

Implies a physically and mentally exhausting work experience.

heavy workload

Indicates a large amount of work that needs to be done.

laborious effort

Emphasizes the extensive effort and time needed.

FAQs

How can "severe work" be used in a sentence?

You can use "severe work" to describe a task or job that is particularly demanding or challenging. For example: "The project required "severe work", pushing the team to their limits."

What are some alternatives to saying "severe work"?

Alternatives include phrases like "demanding labor", "arduous task", or "intense job", depending on the specific context.

Is "severe work" grammatically correct?

Yes, "severe work" is grammatically correct as an adjective-noun phrase, but it's important to ensure the meaning is clear in context. It might be better to replace it with something that is more descriptive, like "heavy workload".

What's the difference between "severe work" and "difficult work"?

"Severe work" implies a high degree of intensity or negative impact, while "difficult work" simply means the work is challenging. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. Consider using "challenging undertaking" for a task that requires significant effort or skill.