work are underway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work are underway" is not correct in English.
It should be "work is underway." You can use it to indicate that a project or task is currently in progress. Example: "The renovations on the building are extensive, and work is underway to complete them by the end of the month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Several other pieces of similar work are underway for different systems, e.g. a fruit fly adult brain (H. Peng et al. unpublished data).

Bioinformatics

Further work are underway in our laboratory to improve our understanding of the events that occur at the maternal-foetal interface in the presence of tumours, especially with regard to the role of cytokines present in ascitic fluid.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Work is underway on 60% of the route.

The Guardian

Work is underway on a connection between a Long Island Rail Road station in Jamaica, Queens, and Kennedy International Airport.

The New York Times

Work is underway to start a development review process in editorial departments later in the year.

The Guardian

Three of the four bodies have been recovered, and work is underway to recover the fourth.

Independent

Institutions where such work is underway include New York University Johns Hopkins Universityy; the University of California, Los Angeles; Psychiatric University Hospital in Zurich; and Imperial College in London.

The New York Times

Work is underway to help clinicians choose and recommend reputable apps, starting with mental health, diabetes and COPD.

The Guardian

Hardwick says work was underway to provide new and refurbished buildings that should provide about 500 activity places.

The Guardian

In the early 1960s work was underway in a US laboratory on a project that had the potential to revolutionise education.

The Guardian

Work is underway to build a replacement, which will be the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the singular verb form when referring to "work" in this context: "Work is underway". This ensures grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the plural verb form "are" with the singular noun "work". It is a common mistake to say "work are underway" when it should be "work is underway".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work are underway" is intended to function as a statement indicating that a task or project is currently in progress. However, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "work is underway". Ludwig confirms that the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work are underway" is grammatically incorrect and should be corrected to "work is underway". As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form uses the singular verb "is" to agree with the singular noun "work". Despite its incorrectness, the phrase attempts to convey that a task or project is currently in progress. The correct phrasing is suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and formal communications. Always ensure subject-verb agreement to maintain grammatical accuracy when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work is in progress

Uses the singular form 'is' to agree with the singular noun 'work', and replaces 'underway' with 'in progress'.

work is ongoing

Replaces 'underway' with the adjective 'ongoing' to describe the state of the work.

activities are in progress

Substitutes 'work' with 'activities' and maintains 'are in progress'.

tasks are in progress

Replaces 'work' with 'tasks' indicating specific assignments, while 'are in progress' remains.

construction is underway

Specifies the type of work as 'construction', which is currently happening.

development is underway

Indicates 'development' is the active process, replacing the generic 'work'.

projects are in motion

Replaces 'work' with 'projects' and 'underway' with 'in motion', suggesting active progression.

things are moving forward

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey progress, diverging from the original structure.

progress is being made

Focuses on the 'progress' itself, rather than the 'work', using a passive construction.

efforts are being exerted

Emphasizes the 'efforts' being made, with a formal tone.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "work are underway"?

The correct way to phrase it is "work is underway". The noun "work" is singular and requires the singular verb "is".

Is "work are underway" grammatically correct?

No, "work are underway" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "work is underway".

What does "work is underway" mean?

It means that a particular task or project is currently in progress or in the process of being done.

What can I say instead of "work is underway"?

You can use alternatives like "work is in progress", "work is ongoing", or "activities are in progress" depending on the context.