work extra hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work extra hours" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone putting in extra time to complete a task or to refer to working longer hours than usual. For example, "In order to meet my project deadline, I had to work extra hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Willing to work extra hours when needed to cover vacations.

Cornell University

Employees were pressured to work extra hours but not offered extra pay, according to the arbitrator.

The Washington Post

Often I had to work extra hours to pay back the lost money.

The New York Times

If they are willing to work extra hours, I want that time devoted to paid work.

The New York Times

Ninety percent said their peers had to work extra hours to compensate for their addiction.

The New York Times

Nobody is getting a pay cut or being asked to work extra hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

She attributes that layoff to her refusal to work extra hours.

The New York Times

In the UK, 19.4% of the workforce work extra hours for no pay.

The Guardian - Money

These are credited when employees work extra hours and can be drawn down when activity is slack.

The Economist

Air marshals might have been asked to work extra hours, and more might have been quickly trained.

The New York Times

The trick, Mr. Adams said, was hard work, extra hours, small classes and teachers steeped in their subjects.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing compensation, clarify whether employees are paid for working extra hours or if it's unpaid overtime. For example: "The contract stipulates they must be compensated when they "work extra hours"."

Common error

Avoid assuming that simply having employees "work extra hours" automatically translates to increased productivity. Consider factors like fatigue, burnout, and efficiency to ensure the extra time is truly beneficial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work extra hours" functions as a verb phrase, typically used within a clause to describe the action of spending more time working than what is normally required. Ludwig confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work extra hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe spending more time on work than usually required. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and used in various contexts. Predominantly found in "News & Media", it also appears in academic and formal business settings. While the phrase is straightforward, it's important to consider the implications of working extra hours, such as compensation and potential impact on productivity. Related alternatives include "work overtime" and "put in overtime", offering subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work overtime

A more concise way to express working beyond regular hours.

work extended hours

Similar to "work extra hours", but emphasizes the extended duration.

put in overtime

Focuses on the act of working beyond regular hours, often implying paid compensation.

do additional hours

Emphasizes adding more hours to the regular schedule.

extend working hours

Focuses on the action of lengthening the time spent working.

increase work hours

Highlights the action of making the hours worked longer.

work longer shifts

Implies working for extended periods at a time.

take on additional shifts

Emphasizes accepting extra work periods.

volunteer for overtime

Implies willingly working extra hours, often without expecting extra pay.

clock extra hours

Focuses on the act of recording additional hours worked.

FAQs

How to use "work extra hours" in a sentence?

You can use "work extra hours" to describe putting in more time than usual, like: "To meet the deadline, I had to "work extra hours" last week." or "The company asked employees to "work extra hours" during the busy season."

What can I say instead of "work extra hours"?

You can use alternatives like "put in overtime", "work overtime", or "do additional hours" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "work extra hours" or "work overtime"?

Both "work extra hours" and "work overtime" are correct. "Work overtime" is more concise and directly implies compensation for the additional time, while "work extra hours" is a more general term.

Is it common to "work extra hours" without pay?

Yes, it is possible to "work extra hours" without pay, which is sometimes referred to as unpaid overtime. Some jobs might require this occasionally, but it is important to know your rights and company policies regarding compensation for work overtime.