work

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it almost any time to refer to any job or task that needs to be done. For example: "I need to finish a lot of work tonight if I'm going to be ready for my presentation tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it didn't work.

The New York Times

By giving the prize to the EU, the Nobel committee has undermined the excellent work of the other deserving winners of this prize.

The Guardian

It will work.

The New York Times

"I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you, and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end".

The New York Times

We work very hard and I am just pleased our vote held up.

The Guardian

It is a work in progress.

The New York Times

It is not easy work.

The New York Times

It was hard work".

The New York Times - Sports

Does it work?

The New York Times - Tech

"It didn't work.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is an essential seminar for managers and leaders looking for a practical definition of big society and how it will work within local government.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "work" as a verb, be mindful of the prepositions that follow it, such as "in", "as", "for", or "with", as they significantly alter the meaning.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "I have a lot of work to do". Instead, specify what kind of work, such as "I have a lot of writing to do" or "I have a lot of research to do" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "work" is as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it represents employment, effort, or a product of effort. As a verb, it signifies performing a task or functioning correctly. Ludwig AI confirms this dual functionality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "work" is a versatile word functioning as both a noun and a verb, signifying employment, effort, a task, or the act of performing a task. Its grammatical status is correct, and it's very common across diverse contexts, including news, business, and general conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. When using "work", be mindful of prepositions to specify meaning. While "work" is frequently used, it is important to avoid vagueness by specifying the exact type of work being referenced. Related phrases such as "labor", "occupation", and "employment" provide alternative ways to express similar concepts. Top sources using this term authoritatively include The Guardian and The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupation

Highlights the professional or employment aspect of someone's activities.

employment

Emphasizes the state of having a job or being employed.

labor

Focuses specifically on physical or mental effort, often in a manual or industrial context.

business

Refers to someone's regular occupation or profession.

task

Refers to a specific piece of activity that needs to be done.

project

Suggests a planned undertaking with a specific goal.

endeavor

Implies a serious or strenuous attempt to accomplish something.

pursuit

Suggests a long-term goal or activity that one is dedicated to.

vocation

Implies a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation.

toil

Emphasizes the arduous and exhausting nature of work.

FAQs

How to use "work" in a sentence?

"Work" can function as a verb, as in "I "work from home"", or as a noun, as in "This is my "life's work"".

What can I say instead of "work"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "labor", "occupation", "employment", or "task".

Which is correct, "work at" or "work in"?

"Work at" and "work in" are both correct, but they have different meanings. "Work at" generally refers to a company or organization, while "work in" refers to a field or industry.

What's the difference between "work" and "job"?

"Work" is a general term for effort or activity, while "job" refers to a specific position of employment. You do "work", but you have a "job".