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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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while I'm working

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How about this from Bo Jackson to The King of the Dweebe, Donut Dan: "Don't mess with me while I'm working...Don't even look at me while I'm working". From Bo Light '96, "While all of these people have disappeared from the ranks of the NBA [see last week's "Where Are They Now?"], one has not faded out of existence altogether.

I still hum hymns while I'm working.

News & Media

The New York Times

I sometimes play it while I'm working.

I like to listen to jazz while I'm working.

News & Media

The Guardian

And I always have music playing while I'm working.

While I'm working, I like to listen to music.

MUSIC Sometimes — it varies — I listen to music while I'm working.

News & Media

The New York Times

While I'm working out, I listen to jazz or oldies on the iPod.

News & Media

The New York Times

"I didn't want to turn my back on customers while I'm working," Serpico explained.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I work 12 hours… My husband is a mother and father while I'm working with Madame.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But I often get surprising and very sharp interpretations of drafts I show to my friends—fellow poets while I'm working on them.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase is excellent for setting boundaries or describing habits in first-person narratives and interviews.

Common error

Do not say "during I'm working". The word "during" is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or noun phrase like "during work" or "during my shift". "While" is a conjunction that correctly introduces a full clause with a subject and verb.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while I'm working" functions as a temporal subordinate clause. It uses the subordinating conjunction "while" to link a secondary action or state to the main activity of working. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it is most often used to modify the main verb of the sentence, providing a duration within which another event occurs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

0.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "while I'm working" is a highly reliable and versatile temporal marker in English. Ludwig AI shows that it is frequently used by professional writers to provide necessary context for a person's state or actions during their tasks. It effectively bridges the gap between personal narrative and professional reporting. While more formal variations like "during the course of my work" exist, they lack the directness and natural flow of the original phrase. Writers should feel confident using it across most media types, ensuring only that they distinguish it clearly from preposition-based alternatives like during work.

FAQs

How to use while I'm working in a sentence?

You can use it at the beginning or end of a sentence to provide context, for example: "I usually listen to podcasts "while I'm working"" or "While I'm working, I prefer to stay focused."

What can I say instead of while I'm working?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like "as I work", "during working hours", or "while at work".

Which is correct, while I'm working or while I work?

Both are correct. ""while I'm working"" uses the continuous aspect to emphasize the ongoing process, whereas "while I work" is slightly more general or habitual.

What's the difference between while I'm working and during work?

""while I'm working"" is a clause that focuses on the action of working, while "during work" is a prepositional phrase that treats work as a time period or event.

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Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: