this massive undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this massive undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large and complex task or project that requires significant effort and resources. Example: "The construction of the new bridge is this massive undertaking that will take several years to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"African political will and determination are key for the continent to be able to realise this massive undertaking.

The Guardian

"It would be helpful to diffuse responsibility for this massive undertaking, and share any dissatisfaction with others and not be the sole target ourselves," he said.

The New York Times

I vividly remember my first step in writing my thesis: I submitted the first 20 pages and was relieved with such a good start on this massive undertaking.

Harvard University

The Citizen Media Law Project launched the first sections of its Citizen Media Legal Guide, with more updates to this massive undertaking on the way.

Harvard University

This massive undertaking includes boring a pair of 30-mile tunnels to funnel water from the Sacramento River upstream of the delta to an existing pumping station downstream of the delta (previous plans, in the 1960s and 1980s, proposed canals that skirted the delta).

The Economist

You know, this massive undertaking that you need to get through to graduate, and I think it's actually an amazing opportunity to pursue something really important to you in a lot of depth, and in a way that could really shape your career later.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"This is a massive undertaking".

The New York Times

TR: Either way, this is a massive undertaking on a very entrenched infrastructure.

MIT Technology Review

"This is a massive undertaking," said one Department of Homeland Security official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the program.

The New York Times

"This is a massive undertaking," Jeff Folden, a project deputy director with the Maryland State Highway Administration told a group of residents and officials at a meeting Tuesday night in Greenbelt.

The Washington Post

This is a massive undertaking, especially given the fact that over those 50 years global energy consumption will double, and may triple, even if we dramatically improve energy efficiency.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this massive undertaking", ensure that the context clearly establishes what "this" refers to, providing clarity and avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "this massive undertaking" for tasks that are not genuinely large or complex. Opt for simpler descriptions if the scale of the task doesn't warrant such emphatic phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this massive undertaking" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describes a significant project or task. It is a descriptor for something of considerable scale and complexity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this massive undertaking" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a large, complex, and resource-intensive task or project. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts including News & Media, Academia, Formal & Business, and Science. While versatile, it’s crucial to ensure the scale of the task justifies the weight of the phrase and to clearly define what "this" refers to. Alternatives like "substantial project" or "extensive operation" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this substantial project

Replaces "massive undertaking" with "substantial project", focusing on the considerable size and importance.

this extensive operation

Substitutes "massive undertaking" with "extensive operation", highlighting the wide-ranging and complex nature.

this significant endeavor

Replaces "massive undertaking" with "significant endeavor", emphasizing the importance and effort involved.

this considerable task

Substitutes "massive undertaking" with "considerable task", focusing on the large amount of work required.

this ambitious scheme

Replaces "massive undertaking" with "ambitious scheme", highlighting the grand scope and aspiration.

this enormous venture

Substitutes "massive undertaking" with "enormous venture", focusing on the size and risk.

this sweeping initiative

Replaces "massive undertaking" with "sweeping initiative", emphasizing the broad scope and impact.

this comprehensive effort

Substitutes "massive undertaking" with "comprehensive effort", highlighting the thoroughness and all-encompassing nature.

this large-scale operation

Replaces "massive undertaking" with "large-scale operation", emphasizing the scope.

this complex enterprise

Substitutes "massive undertaking" with "complex enterprise", focusing on the intricate and multifaceted nature.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this massive undertaking" to sound less formal?

You can use phrases like "this huge project", "this big job", or "this challenging task" to convey a similar meaning in a less formal tone.

Is it always necessary to use "this" before "massive undertaking"?

While "this" is commonly used to refer to a specific project or task, you can also say "a massive undertaking" when speaking generally about such endeavors. For instance, you could say, "Rebuilding the city after the earthquake was "a massive undertaking".".

What are some synonyms for "massive" in the context of "this massive undertaking"?

Alternatives include "enormous", "extensive", "substantial", "immense", or "colossal", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it more appropriate to use "project" instead of "undertaking" in describing "this massive undertaking"?

A "project" typically refers to a planned set of activities designed to achieve a specific goal, while an "undertaking" implies a broader, more complex endeavor. Use "project" if the task is well-defined and has clear objectives; otherwise, "undertaking" might be more suitable.