undertaking in itself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undertaking in itself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the intrinsic nature or significance of an undertaking or task, often in discussions about its merits or challenges. Example: "The project is an undertaking in itself, requiring extensive resources and commitment from the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Creating devices like that would be a considerable undertaking in itself.

The New York Times

Mobile operators, for instance, take a big cut when payments are made using "premium" text messages.Facebook, Apple and a raft of start-ups are all trying to develop a low-cost payment system, which could be a lucrative undertaking in itself.

The Economist

The riveting documentary The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1975) trails champion Japanese skier Yuichiro Miura and his team as they ascend the world's highest peak -- an arduous, perilous undertaking in itself, ultimately hoping to descend on skis -- a virtual suicide mission.

Huffington Post

We are now paving way for the proposed census, which is a mammoth undertaking in itself in a country which is only beginning to emerge from a system that fragmented in every aspect of social and political life and entering a new era," said Abdirahman Aynte, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Training is typically undertaken in-house.

The Guardian - Money

As we have said previously, the knowledge aggregation process undertaken in each country was, in itself, a tangible result because " the process of generating knowledge was the product"[ 23].

BMC Health Services Research

Even the main plot itself may be undertaken in a number of ways.

Wikipedia

Last year, packing was undertaken in Pakistan due to limited capacity in Afghanistan itself.

Unicef

The current restoration was undertaken in 2006.

The New York Times

Chemical spraying was undertaken in Colombia and proved ineffective.

The New York Times

Tells about the repair job undertaken in 1950.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undertaking in itself" to emphasize the substantial effort, resources, or complexity required for a single task, distinguishing it from being a minor component of a larger project.

Common error

Avoid using "undertaking in itself" when referring to a simple task or something that doesn't inherently require significant effort. Reserve it for situations where the activity is notably complex or demanding on its own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undertaking in itself" functions as a means to emphasize the independent nature, significance, or complexity of a particular task, project, or endeavor. Ludwig provides real-world examples that demonstrates proper usage in emphasizing intrinsic nature of an activity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "undertaking in itself" is a grammatically sound expression used to emphasize the self-contained significance or complexity of a task. While relatively rare, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis, it appears most frequently in news, business, and scientific contexts. Ludwig's real-world examples and analysis supports the proper usage and highlights contexts where it is most appropriate, ensuring clarity and impact in your writing. To avoid misuse, it is advisable to use it when the activity has considerable effort or resources. Alternatives like "endeavor in its own right" and "task in and of itself" can provide similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor in its own right

Focuses on the independent value and significance of the endeavor.

task in and of itself

Highlights the task's inherent complexity or importance.

project on its own merits

Emphasizes evaluating the project based solely on its qualities.

challenge by its very nature

Stresses the inherent difficulty and demands of the challenge.

activity as a standalone pursuit

Highlights the activity's ability to be pursued independently.

venture in isolation

Focuses on the isolated nature of the venture, separate from other activities.

pursuit considered separately

Emphasizes the distinct and individual consideration of the pursuit.

matter viewed independently

Highlights that the matter is being considered without external factors.

operation standing alone

Focuses on the self-sufficiency and independence of the operation.

assignment viewed in isolation

Stresses that the assignment should be considered without context.

FAQs

How can I use "undertaking in itself" in a sentence?

You can use "undertaking in itself" to emphasize that a particular task or project is significant and complex enough to be considered on its own. For example, "Developing the software was an undertaking in itself, even before considering the marketing campaign."

What phrases are similar to "undertaking in itself"?

Similar phrases include "endeavor in its own right", "task in and of itself", and "project on its own merits". These all emphasize the self-contained nature of the activity.

Is it appropriate to use "undertaking in itself" in formal writing?

Yes, "undertaking in itself" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to highlight the inherent significance or challenges of a specific task or project. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

When should I not use the phrase "undertaking in itself"?

Avoid using "undertaking in itself" when referring to minor or simple tasks. The phrase is most effective when describing something that inherently requires considerable effort or resources.