work later than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work later than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an activity that is being done after a specific point in time, for example: "She worked later than usual today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Work later than 5.30 and the office is a morgue.

The Guardian

"We should be starting between 7.30am and 9am and never finishing work later than 6pm.

The Guardian

Leave work later than you'd like, and still feel compelled to check e-mail in the evenings?

The New York Times

Employers are supposed to ensure that female workers are taken home safely if they work later than 7pm.

The Economist

The only drawbacks, Mr. Alston said, are being unable to run errands at lunchtime when he is not driving and being unable to leave work later than usual.

The New York Times

The only drawbacks, he said, are being unable to run errands at lunchtime when he is not driving and being unable to leave work later than usual.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Japan also lifted a ban that prohibited women from working later than 10 p.m.

The New York Times - Food

The Mets worked later than the Yankees, reaching agreement with Steve Trachsel, one of their starting pitchers, on a two-year, $8 million contract five minutes before the midnight deadline for teams to offer salary arbitration to their free agents.

The New York Times - Sports

Deng had worked later than expected the night before, organising a hoop-shooting competition as a few dozen enthusiastic camp-members tried to match his expertise with a basketball.

The Guardian - Sport

She was raped by a man who occasionally worked in her school, a day laborer she barely saw until the night she was working later than usual and he attacked her in the faculty room where she was making copies for her students.

Huffington Post

It is better for one to study now and work later, rather than be part of dangerous labour".

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "work later than", ensure you clearly define the point of comparison. For example, "work later than usual", "work later than 5 PM", or "work later than your colleagues".

Common error

Avoid using "work later than" without a clear reference point. Saying "I work later than" is vague. Instead, specify what you are comparing to: "I work later than I used to" or "I work later than my brother".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work later than" functions as a comparative phrase, typically modifying a verb. It indicates that someone is performing the action of working after a specified time or in comparison to another reference point. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

29%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "work later than" serves as a comparative expression to indicate working beyond a specific reference. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used, especially in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts. To ensure clarity, always specify the reference point for the comparison, such as "work later than usual" or "work later than 5 PM". By doing so, you can effectively convey the intended meaning and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay at work longer

Focuses on the duration of time spent at work, rather than a specific time comparison.

extend work hours

Emphasizes the act of making work hours longer.

put in extra hours at work

Highlights the effort of working beyond regular hours.

work beyond usual hours

Focuses on exceeding the typical work schedule.

continue working past

Describes the action of working beyond a specified time.

remain working after

Similar to continue, but implies a state of remaining.

delay finishing work

Shifts the focus to postponing the completion of tasks.

postpone the end of work

More formal way to describe delaying work completion.

keep working until late

Emphasizes working until a later time in the day.

work until a later hour

Similar to keeping working until late, highlights the final hour.

FAQs

How can I use "work later than" in a sentence?

You can use "work later than" to compare your working hours to a specific time, person, or previous schedule. For example, "I often "work later than" 6 PM to finish my projects".

What is a good alternative to "work later than"?

Alternatives include "stay at work longer", "extend work hours", or "put in extra hours at work", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I work later than usual"?

Yes, "I "work later than" usual" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that you are working beyond your typical hours.

What's the difference between "work later than" and "work overtime"?

"Work later than" simply means working past a certain time or comparison point. "Work overtime" specifically refers to working beyond the standard number of hours and often implies extra compensation.