work hard for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work hard for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the effort someone puts in to achieve a goal or to support someone else. Example: "If you want to succeed in this competitive field, you need to work hard for your dreams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He likes to work hard for everything.

The New York Times

We all work hard for our results.

Independent

That's what I work hard for".

Independent

I work hard for you, Mr. Castle".

The New Yorker

You have to work hard for everything.

The New York Times

She'll work hard for you".

The New Yorker

Yeah, I work hard for that.

The New York Times

I know I'll work hard for her.

The New York Times - Health

I work "hard for knowledge and accomplishments".

The Guardian - Books

They made me work hard for it.

The Guardian - Sport

Donors work hard for the cash.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "strive for" or "dedicate oneself to" to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "work hard for" when the context implies inherent talent or luck rather than dedicated effort. For example, instead of saying "She worked hard for her natural musical ability", consider "She honed her natural musical ability through practice".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work hard for" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of exerting significant effort to achieve something or to benefit someone. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Sports

15%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "work hard for" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to convey the concept of exerting significant effort towards a specific goal or for the benefit of someone else. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and widely used. It is commonly found in news articles, sports reports, and general conversations. While neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "strive for" may be suitable for academic or professional contexts. Remember to use "work hard for" when you want to emphasize dedication and commitment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put effort into

Focuses on the action of investing time and energy.

strive for

Emphasizes a determined and sustained effort towards achieving something.

go the extra mile for

Implies exceeding expectations in one's effort.

endeavor to achieve

Highlights a conscientious effort to accomplish a specific goal.

exert effort toward

Focuses on the application of energy and resources in a particular direction.

apply oneself diligently to

Emphasizes careful and persistent effort.

dedicate oneself to

Highlights a commitment to a cause or goal, often involving significant effort.

labor to obtain

Highlights the arduous nature of working toward a goal.

toil for

Implies long, strenuous work to achieve something.

bust your butt for

Informal, but emphasizes a great amount of work.

FAQs

How can I use "work hard for" in a sentence?

You can use "work hard for" to describe the effort someone puts in to achieve a goal, as in "They work hard for their success". It can also describe working diligently for someone else, as in "She'll work hard for you".

What's a more formal way to say "work hard for"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "strive for" or "endeavor to achieve". These options convey a sense of determined effort in a professional or academic context.

Is it correct to say "worked hardly for" instead of "worked hard for"?

No, "worked hardly for" is grammatically incorrect. "Hardly" means 'barely' or 'scarcely', changing the meaning entirely. The correct phrase is "worked hard for", where "hard" functions as an adverb describing the manner of working.

What can I say instead of "work hard for" when talking about money?

If you're referring to earning money, you could say "earn money through diligence", "labor to obtain funds", or "toil for income". These alternatives emphasize the effort involved in earning a living.