work going on

USAGE SUMMARY

"work going on" is both correct and usable in written English.
It typically functions as part of a larger phrase, such as "work going on in the background," or "work going on behind the scenes." For example, you could say, "The project was a success due to all the work going on in the background by our team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is there duplicative work going on?

Stanford University

"There's no real work going on right now.

The New York Times

"There is no real detective work going on".

The New York Times

There is much construction work going on in downtown Berlin.

The New Yorker

There's a lot of private space work going on now.

Princeton University

But there is serious work going on behind the scenes.

The Guardian - Travel

Some lovely milkmaid work going on in this over.

The Guardian - Sport

"So, yeah, Mallory's mom isn't really thrilled with all the development work going on".

The New York Times

Interested in work going on at the intersection of business and the environment?

Yale University

Pit of G 4940 A cleared and work going on in chamber.

Harvard University

"It's a work in progress and there's a huge amount of work going on," Murdoch said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "work going on", ensure the context is clear. Specify the type of work if necessary (e.g., "construction work going on", "development work going on") to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "work going on" is acceptable in many situations, it might sound too informal for certain professional or academic settings. Opt for alternatives like "activity underway" or "projects in progress" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work going on" typically functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject or object complement, indicating that some form of activity or labor is currently taking place. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

32%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "work going on" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe ongoing activities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. While frequently used in news, academic, and scientific contexts, it may require more formal alternatives like "activity underway" or "projects in progress" in professional settings. When using "work going on", ensure clarity by specifying the type of work involved. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for various situations, but be mindful of the audience and choose more precise language when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

activity underway

Replaces "work" with "activity" and uses a more formal term "underway" instead of "going on".

projects in progress

Specifies "work" as "projects" and replaces "going on" with "in progress", indicating current activity.

operations unfolding

Uses "operations" to denote specific tasks and "unfolding" as a more descriptive term for "going on".

development occurring

Focuses on "development" as the type of work and uses "occurring" as a more formal substitute for "going on".

tasks being performed

Highlights "tasks" as the work being done and uses a passive construction with "being performed".

business transpiring

Specifies "business" as the type of work and uses "transpiring" to indicate events happening.

endeavors unfolding

Replaces "work" with "endeavors" and uses "unfolding" as a more vivid term for ongoing progress.

pursuits in motion

Replaces "work" with "pursuits" and uses "in motion" to describe ongoing activities.

undertakings proceeding

Employs more formal language, replacing "work" with "undertakings" and "going on" with "proceeding".

construction happening

Specifically refers to "construction" work, using "happening" as a direct and simple alternative to "going on".

FAQs

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

You can use "work going on" to describe current activities or projects. For example, "There's a lot of "development work" going on in the city center."

What are some alternatives to "work going on"?

Some alternatives include "activity underway", "projects in progress", or "operations unfolding", depending on the context.

Is "work going on" formal or informal?

"Work going on" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "activity underway" or "tasks being performed".

How does "work going on" differ from "work in progress"?

"Work going on" describes ongoing activity, while "work in progress" often refers to something that is unfinished but being actively worked on. The former is more general; the latter implies a state of incompleteness.