share the workload

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrases 'share the workload' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest that work should be spread out among multiple people. For example, you could say, "It's too much for one person, so let's share the workload and get it done faster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

If he cannot play, Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will share the workload against the Saints.

The New York Times

But in capitalist economies, it is extremely difficult to share the workload in a fair way.

The Guardian - Opinion

Five of the six semiretired senior judges who share the workload were nominated by Republican presidents.

The New York Times

They coordinate efforts and share the workload — sometimes in formal groups, sometimes as loose collectives.

The New York Times

Be open and honest with each other and try to share the workload if possible.

Independent

As Weekend Box has grown, Andy has realised that he needs to share the workload if the business is to continue growing and moving forward.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

By sharing the workload, the separate cores produce less heat.

The Economist

In real life, as in the film, Jonathan became part of the family, sharing the workload of caring for Stephen with Jane, and helping bring up the children.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Instead of developing a new type of image server, Sarnoff solved the problem in a 32-inch, three-million-pixel demonstration prototype by sharing the workload.

The New York Times - Tech

With grades and the group's pride at stake, the temptation is to concentrate on getting the job done at the expense of sharing the workload equally.

The Economist

Dado, 27, churned through those miles at a steadier pace, sharing the workload alongside Deba and soaking up the cheers New Yorkers were showering on Deba.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, such as computing or engineering, use the phrase to describe load balancing or parallel processing systems.

Common error

Avoid using "share the workload" if you are actually attempting to "delegate entirely". Sharing implies that the speaker or the original owner of the task remains involved in its execution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "share the workload" functions primarily as a transitive verb phrase. In this construction, "share" acts as the action verb while "the workload" serves as the direct object. According to Ludwig, this phrase is used to denote the act of dividing a total amount of work among two or more entities to ensure efficiency or fairness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "share the workload" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct expression used to describe the distribution of tasks across multiple people, machines or departments. Ludwig AI data shows that it is prevalent in both high-level journalism and technical scientific papers, making it an excellent choice for almost any writing context. Whether you are discussing "team dynamics" in an office or the efficiency of a "dual core processor", this phrase clearly communicates the concept of shared effort. To sound more formal, you might consider alternatives like "distribute the labor", but for general use, "share the workload" remains the most natural and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distribute the workload

Emphasizes the organizational act of assigning tasks to different people

share the burden

Implies that the work is particularly heavy, difficult or unpleasant

divide the labor

More technical or economic tone, often used in professional project management

split the tasks

More informal, often used when breaking a project into specific pieces

spread the responsibility

Focuses on the accountability aspect rather than just the physical labor

collaborate on the project

Shifts the focus from dividing tasks to working together as a unified team

allocate the duties

A more formal and managerial way to describe the distribution of work

parcel out the work

Suggests dividing a large task into smaller, manageable portions

co-manage the tasks

Implies shared leadership or oversight rather than just execution

reassign the load

Used when work is being shifted from one person to several others

FAQs

How do I use "share the workload" in a professional email?

You can use it to suggest collaboration, for example: "To ensure we meet the deadline, it might be helpful to "distribute the tasks" and share the workload among the team members."

What is the difference between "share the workload" and "split the work"?

"share the workload" often sounds more professional and collaborative, whereas "split the work" can sound more transactional or informal.

Can "share the workload" be used for machines or computers?

Yes, it is common in technical literature to describe how multiple processors or servers "distribute processing" power to handle large amounts of data efficiently.

Is "share the workload" a common idiom?

While it functions as a standard colocation rather than a metaphorical idiom, it is a very common expression used to describe "collaborative effort" in both workplace and domestic settings.