work away for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work away for" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be interpreted as working hard or diligently for something, but it is not commonly used in this form. Example: "I have to work away for my promotion if I want to succeed in this company."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Everyone else will be giving their work away for free to establish an audience.

The New York Times

The injunction to put work away for the day sounds fine, but hold on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You put your work away for a while, take it out and see if it's any good.

The Guardian

With the phone inserted, you can happily work away for eight or 10 hours on a single charge.

The New York Times - Tech

"What I do find frustrating," she says, "is that you can work away for a year on a book like this and still..."....

Independent

Other characters in these stories design hypermodern furniture that looks like "a tossed handkerchief suspended forever just before descent"; work away for years on books about Basquiat; are oddly sexually disaffected; sometimes move to France; become fathers at 45 (and still feel it's too soon); publish in very small journals with names like Heron's Flap Quarterly; and so on.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Not in the fact that Tracey Emin has a whole floor of accountants working away for example.

The Guardian

My own grandmother spent year upon year by herself as her husband worked away for the navy.

The Guardian - Opinion

If they asked, he would tell the activists that he was working away for a few days as an industrial climber.

The Guardian

Moeen Ali will continue and opens up with a full toss that Mahela works away for a single into the leg-side.

The Guardian - Sport

Her husband is a mechanic who works away for much of time, so Sharma is often left alone to bring up their two boys.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dedicated effort, consider stronger alternatives like "work toward", "strive for", or "dedicate oneself to" for clearer and more impactful communication.

Common error

Avoid using "work away for" when you mean to express dedicated effort. This phrase can be misinterpreted. Instead, choose alternatives like "work towards" or "strive for" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work away for" primarily functions as a verb phrase, suggesting effort directed toward a specific purpose. However, Ludwig indicates that it is not a standard construction, suggesting caution in its usage.

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

In summary, the phrase "work away for" is not considered standard English and is flagged by Ludwig as a potentially confusing construction. While examples exist, they are infrequent and primarily found in news and science contexts. For clearer and more effective communication, it's recommended to opt for alternatives such as "work towards", "strive for", or "dedicate oneself to". Using these alternatives will enhance clarity and ensure your message is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work towards

This alternative emphasizes the direction of effort, focusing on making progress toward a specific objective.

strive for

This alternative suggests a determined and focused effort to achieve a particular goal.

work diligently for

This alternative highlights the consistent and attentive effort applied towards a specific objective.

labor for

This alternative implies a strenuous and laborious effort invested in achieving something.

endeavor for

This alternative suggests making an earnest and determined attempt to achieve a goal.

exert oneself for

This alternative emphasizes the personal effort and energy devoted towards a specific purpose.

put effort into

This alternative focuses on applying dedicated energy to a certain activity or goal.

dedicate oneself to

This alternative highlights the commitment and devotion towards a particular cause or goal.

commit to

This alternative showcases a strong and binding commitment towards a specific aim or objective.

apply oneself to

This alternative emphasizes the personal effort put in achieving a certain goal

FAQs

What does "work away for" mean?

The phrase "work away for" is not standard English and may be unclear. It could be interpreted as diligently working towards something, but it's best to use clearer alternatives.

What can I say instead of "work away for"?

You can use alternatives like "work towards", "strive for", or "dedicate oneself to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "work away for"?

While some instances of "work away for" exist, it is not considered standard English. It's safer to use more common and clearer alternatives.

Which is correct, "work away for" or "work towards"?

"Work towards" is grammatically correct and more commonly used than "work away for". It clearly indicates effort directed towards a goal.