too much work

USAGE SUMMARY

"too much work" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe an excess of assignments, tasks, or duties. For example, "I have been given too much work to complete in one day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And too much work.

The New Yorker

It's too much work.

The New York Times

And it's too much work.

The New York Times

Maybe it's too much work.

The New York Times - Arts

Too much work and too many leftovers.

The New Yorker

It all seems like too much work.

The New York Times - Sports

That took too much work, he said.

The New York Times

Too much work to do.

The New York Times

Too much work, they said.

The New York Times

"Too much work," he said.

The New York Times

It's just too much work.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too much work", ensure it clearly indicates an excessive amount that is causing difficulty or stress. For example, specify who is experiencing "too much work" and the consequences, such as "The team has too much work, leading to burnout."

Common error

Avoid using "too much work" without context. Instead of just stating "There's too much work", specify what the work entails and why it's excessive. For example, say "There's too much paperwork, which is slowing down our productivity."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too much work" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes an excess of tasks, duties, or assignments. Ludwig confirms its widespread usage, highlighting its role in conveying an overwhelming workload.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too much work" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to indicate an excessive workload, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a noun phrase, often expressing concern or complaint. While appropriate in neutral contexts, more formal alternatives like "excessive workload" may be suitable for professional settings. Remember to provide context to make your communication clearer, and avoid overgeneralization. Ludwig's examples highlight the diverse applications of this expression across various domains, reinforcing its versatility and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an overload of tasks

Highlights the state of being overwhelmed by a quantity of tasks.

excessive workload

This alternative focuses on the amount of work being beyond a reasonable or manageable level.

unrealistic workload

The workload is not achievable considering given time or other constraints.

overwhelming tasks

This alternative highlights the feeling of being burdened or unable to cope with the volume of tasks.

unmanageable assignments

This alternative emphasizes the difficulty in dealing with the assigned tasks due to their quantity or complexity.

undue burden of labor

The labor involved is an unfair and excessive burden.

heavy burden of labor

This phrase illustrates a significant and oppressive workload.

excessive demands on time

This alternative points out the large amount of time required to complete the tasks.

unreasonable expectations

This alternative suggests that the amount of work exceeds what is fair or achievable.

crushing responsibilities

This expresses how the responsibilities feel heavy and overwhelming.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "too much work" to sound more formal?

In a formal context, consider using phrases like "excessive workload", "unmanageable assignments", or "heavy burden of labor" to convey the same meaning with a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "too much work" and "a lot of work"?

"Too much work" implies that the amount is excessive and possibly causing stress or difficulty, while "a lot of work" simply indicates a large quantity of work without necessarily implying a negative impact.

Is it correct to say "too many work" instead of "too much work"?

No, "too many work" is grammatically incorrect. "Work" is generally considered an uncountable noun, so it should be paired with "too much" instead of "too many". You can say "too many tasks" or "too many projects" if you are referring to individual, countable items.

When is it appropriate to use "too much work" in a sentence?

It's appropriate when you want to express that the quantity of work is excessive and causing a problem. For example, "I can't take on any new clients right now, I already have too much work."