went to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"went to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's daily activity, such as "John went to work at 8am every morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both went to work.

Independent

He went to work.

The New York Times

"I went to work.

The New York Times - Health

The Jews went to work.

The New York Times

Then Bale went to work.

The New York Times

"They never went to work".

The New York Times

But Ammar went to work.

The New Yorker

Then he went to work.

The New York Times - Magazine

Toyota's engineers went to work.

The New York Times

Then I went to work.

The New Yorker

I went to work...

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went to work" to describe the act of someone starting their job or a specific task. For variety, consider synonyms like "started working" or "began working" to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "went to work" when describing a future action. Instead, use "will go to work" or "is going to work" to indicate future tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went to work" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of commencing employment or a specific task. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is standard English. Examples in Ludwig showcase various contexts, highlighting its versatility in describing past actions related to work.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "went to work" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the action of starting a job or task in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in various contexts, predominantly in news and media. While alternatives like "started working" or "began working" exist, "went to work" remains a straightforward and frequently used option for conveying this action. When writing, it's important to ensure correct tense usage and consider the context to maintain clarity and avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started working

Focuses on the initiation of work, emphasizing the beginning of the activity.

began working

Similar to 'started working', but can imply a more gradual start.

commenced work

A more formal way of saying 'started working'.

got down to business

Highlights the seriousness and focus applied to the work.

set about working

Implies a deliberate and organized approach to starting work.

embarked on work

Suggests a significant undertaking or project.

applied oneself to work

Emphasizes dedication and effort put into the work.

undertook employment

Focuses on the formal aspect of starting a job or task.

assumed duties

Highlights the responsibilities taken on when starting work.

turned to the task

Implies a direct and immediate focus on the work at hand.

FAQs

What is the difference between "went to work" and "go to work"?

"Went to work" is past tense, describing an action that has already occurred. "Go to work" is present tense, describing a current or habitual action.

How can I use "went to work" in a sentence?

You can use "went to work" to describe someone's past action of starting their job or task, such as "She "went to work" early today."

What are some alternatives to saying "went to work"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "started working", "began working", or "commenced work".

Is it correct to say "gone to work"?

While "gone to work" can be grammatically correct in certain contexts (e.g., "She has gone to work"), it's often more natural and clear to say ""went to work"" when describing the action of someone starting their job.