work has been laid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work has been laid" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "The groundwork for the project has been laid, and we can now proceed with the next steps."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The extent of consultancy work has been laid bare in the department's answer to a question it took on notice from Labor's defence spokesman, Stephen Conroy, during the previous round of Senate estimates hearings.

The Guardian

But if you dig a bit further, the ground work has been laid.

TechCrunch

While some ground work has been laid out on single-row deep-grooved ball (DGB) bearing, comprehensive modeling effort on spherical roller bearing (SRB) has yet to be carried out.

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

Already the ground work has been laid.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It was an easy transition for the adults because ground-work had been laid from the beginning around food -- limited sugar, packaged foods, lots of fruits and veggies, were already part of his daily routine.

Huffington Post

Some 60percentt of Ramar's work force has been laid off by JDS in the last six months, Dr. Mahapatra said.

The New York Times

If someone in your office has been laid off, you work more and harder because you are fearful that you could be next and that person's work has been redistributed to others, including you, in the office.

The New York Times

But how is she to be a parent when she has been laid off at work, has a lemon for a car, and a dozen nannies have fled the scene?

The New York Times

Spontaneous collaborations like these can work, but generally only if the groundwork has been laid before a storm hits, said Di-Ann Eisner, the vice president of platforms and partnerships at Waze. "Very few people will download an app just to help," she said.

The New York Times

So, there are linear elements to the way pigment has been laid down in works like Pink Field (1962) and Parade (1965), which resembles colored icicles dripping from the roof of a cave.

The Guardian - Arts

No Cablevision technician has been laid off.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey the idea that preliminary steps or planning have been undertaken, use the idiom "groundwork has been laid" or "foundation has been laid" instead of the grammatically questionable phrase "work has been laid".

Common error

Avoid using "work has been laid" because it's not a standard or grammatically sound expression. Instead, use established idioms like "groundwork has been laid" or "foundation has been laid" to accurately convey the meaning of preliminary preparations being completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work has been laid" appears to be an attempt to express the completion of initial preparations, but it is not a standard idiomatic expression. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically questionable. Its primary grammatical function would be as a passive construction, but it lacks conventional usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "work has been laid" is not a standard or grammatically correct English expression. Ludwig's analysis reveals that this phrase is flagged as incorrect, suggesting it violates conventional grammar rules. While there are a few instances of its use, particularly in news and media contexts, it's generally advisable to avoid this phrasing. Instead, opt for established idioms like "groundwork has been laid" or "foundation has been laid" to convey the idea that preliminary preparations have been completed effectively. These alternatives are more idiomatic, grammatically sound, and widely accepted, ensuring clearer and more accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work has been completed

Replaces 'laid' with 'completed', emphasizing the finished state of the work.

work has been finished

Similar to 'completed', this highlights the termination of the work.

work has been planned

Shifts the focus to the planning stage of the work, rather than its execution or impact.

work has been affected

Indicates that the work has undergone some influence or alteration.

work has been disrupted

Suggests the work has been interrupted or negatively impacted.

work has been halted

Implies a complete stop to the work process.

work has been established

Focuses on the creation or implementation of work processes or systems.

foundation has been laid

Emphasizes the preparatory aspects of work, using a common idiomatic expression.

groundwork has been laid

Highlights the initial preparation or planning stages of work.

the foundation has been set

Conveys a similar meaning to groundwork laid, focusing on established preliminary steps.

FAQs

Is "work has been laid" grammatically correct?

No, "work has been laid" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like /s/groundwork+has+been+laid or /s/foundation+has+been+laid to convey the intended meaning.

What does "groundwork has been laid" mean?

"Groundwork has been laid" means that the initial preparations or planning for a project or task have been completed, setting the stage for further progress. This expression is a more idiomatic and correct way to express a similar idea to "work has been laid".

When should I use "foundation has been laid"?

Use "foundation has been laid" when you want to emphasize that the basic structure or framework for something has been established. It's a more appropriate and widely accepted way to express that preparatory steps have been taken, compared to the phrase "work has been laid".

Are there situations where "work has been laid" might be appropriate?

While not generally accepted in standard English, "work has been laid" could potentially be used in very specific, non-idiomatic contexts where something was literally placed down during a task, such as "the pipes were heavy, and the work has been laid carefully". However, such uses are rare and context-dependent, and it is generally advisable to use alternative phrasing.