work about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work about" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It is not commonly used, and its meaning is unclear without additional context. Example: "I need to work about the project details before our meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What isn't this work about?

The New Yorker

I finish my work about 6.30pm.

The Guardian - Money

On average, doctors report to work about 44 hours per week as GP10.

Health Economics Review

I work about 16 hours a day.

Vice

Today, they work about 34 hours per week.

Huffington Post

Should You Tell Work About Your Mental Health Condition?

Vice

My impression is that the two methods work about equally well.

eLife

I work about 10 hours a day.

Independent

What doesn't work about "Harlem Is Nowhere"?

The New York Times - Books

I work about 32 hours a week.

The New York Times - Magazine

We work about 14 months in advance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "work about" in formal writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "work on", "work regarding", or "work concerning" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Don't assume that "work about" is equivalent to "work on". While they might seem similar, "work about" is often seen as grammatically incorrect or ambiguous. "Work on" clearly indicates focusing effort towards something, whereas "work about" lacks this clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work about" appears to function as a verb followed by a preposition, though its usage is non-standard. Examining Ludwig AI, its precise function is difficult to determine due to its uncommon and often grammatically questionable usage. In several examples, it attempts to convey a sense of action related to a topic.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work about" is generally considered grammatically questionable in standard English, as also highlighted by Ludwig AI. Although present in some sources, especially news and media, its usage is inconsistent, and its meaning can be ambiguous. It's crucial to opt for clearer alternatives like "work on", "work regarding", or "work concerning" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing. Always prioritize precision over potentially confusing expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work on

Replaces "about" with "on" to denote focusing effort towards something.

work regarding

Substitutes "about" with "regarding" to specify working with respect to a subject.

work concerning

Uses "concerning" instead of "about" to indicate the subject of the work.

work related to

Employs "related to" to clearly show association between the work and a specific topic.

undertake work on

Adds "undertake" to emphasize commitment to the task and specifies the subject with "on".

perform tasks relating to

Replaces "work" with "perform tasks" to denote specific actions and uses "relating to" to connect them to a topic.

be employed in

Focuses on the state of being engaged in a type of work or profession.

engage in activity concerning

Highlights active participation in something related to a specific issue.

devote effort toward

Emphasizes dedication of resources or energy towards a specific objective or task.

dedicate time to

Stresses allocation of personal time to a specific task or goal.

FAQs

Is "work about" grammatically correct?

No, "work about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "work on" or "work regarding" for clarity.

What can I say instead of "work about"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "work about" with alternatives such as "work on", "work regarding", or "work concerning".

Which is correct, "work about" or "work on"?

"Work on" is the correct and more widely accepted phrase. "Work about" is often seen as grammatically incorrect or at best, ambiguous.

How can I use "work on" in a sentence?

You can use "work on" to indicate focusing effort towards something. For example, "I need to "work on" the project details before the meeting".