who is working

USAGE SUMMARY

"who is working" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to ask about the identity of someone currently engaging in a work-related activity. For example: "Could you tell me who is working in the accounting department right now?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Who is working hard and who isn't?

The New York Times - Sports

I am an artist who is working around the world.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Ahmed, who is working in Intisar for the Amniya?

The New Yorker

"I had a working mother," he said, "and I married a woman who is working, and Bella has a mother who is working.

The New York Times

The authorities have moved on from Mr. Hollander, who is working as an entrepreneur.

The New York Times

I have a 60ish friend who is working toward a B.A. in history at Columbia.

The New York Times

Most families who get the aid have an adult who is working.

The New York Times

Emillio Mesa is a hospitality and events manager who is working on a memoir.

The New York Times

The main problem, says Dr McLarnon, who is working in this area, is cost.

The Economist

Onyeabor, who is working on a forthcoming record, this time to praise God, approves.

The New Yorker

But perhaps there is, even now, an insomniac undergrad out there who is working on it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking a question about someone's current activities, "who is working" is a clear and direct way to inquire. Ensure that your sentence structure maintains proper subject-verb agreement for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "who works" when you specifically want to know about someone's activity at this moment. "Who works here?" is different than "Who is working here now?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who is working" typically functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or pronoun by providing additional information about a person currently engaged in work. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis of the phrase and its usage in provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "who is working" functions as a relative clause to identify individuals currently performing a task. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving to inquire about or specify individuals currently engaged in work. While appropriate for many settings, it's crucial to consider context and choose more formal alternatives when needed. The phrase is very common, indicating its established usage in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who is right now working

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the action.

who is in the process of working

More descriptive and emphasizes the ongoing nature of the work.

who's currently employed

Focuses on current employment status rather than the act of working.

who is on duty

Implies a scheduled work period, often in specific professions.

who is undertaking

Suggests someone who has started or committed to a particular task or project.

who's presently occupied

Highlights the state of being busy or engaged in an activity.

who is engaged

Highlights the state of being committed or involved in work.

who is now active

Emphasizes current engagement, broader than just work.

who is laboring

Implies hard work or physical effort.

who is toiling

Similar to laboring, but suggests prolonged or arduous work.

FAQs

How can I use "who is working" in a sentence?

Use "who is working" to inquire about someone's current work activity, for example: "Who is working on the project now?" or "Do you know who is working late tonight?"

What is a more formal alternative to "who is working"?

While "who is working" is suitable for most situations, you might use "who is presently engaged" in more formal contexts.

What's the difference between "who is working" and "who works"?

"Who is working" refers to a current, ongoing activity, while "who works" describes a general or habitual action. For example, "Who is working on the report right now?" versus "Who works in the marketing department?"

Can I use "who's working" instead of "who is working"?

Yes, "who's working" is a contraction of "who is working" and is perfectly acceptable in most informal contexts. The choice between them depends on the desired level of formality.