work myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work myself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is referring to their own efforts or actions, often in relation to self-improvement or personal development. Example: "I need to work myself into a better routine to achieve my goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I work myself to death.

Independent

I must get back to work myself.

The New York Times

I'm afraid to come in to work myself".

The New York Times

I live in East New York, and I take the B46 to work myself".

The New Yorker

"I am hoping to work myself out of a job," he said.

The New York Times

These, when I got home and began to work myself, turned out to be my favorite.

The New York Times - Food

I work myself up so much, and the concentration is like, please don't fall.

The New York Times

I need to be out here and play in competition and work myself into form that way.

The New York Times - Sports

Whenever I do get into a downward cycle, I tend to work myself out of it very quickly.

The New York Times

"Slowly but surely I was able to work myself back into the groove," Sehorn said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I thought I'd work myself up, become a manager or something like that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "work myself" when you want to emphasize personal effort directed towards a specific outcome, such as improvement, achievement or change in state. This is particularly effective when highlighting the active role someone takes in their own development or struggle.

Common error

Avoid using "work myself" in situations where the action is primarily passive or externally driven. Overusing it in such contexts can make the writing sound awkward or unnatural. Consider alternatives that better reflect the passive nature of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work myself" functions primarily as a verb phrase where the verb "work" is reflexive, indicating that the action is directed back to the subject. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it's used to express the act of putting effort or energy into a particular activity or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work myself" is a versatile expression primarily used to denote personal effort directed towards a specific outcome or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently encountered in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While suitable for general communication, it is important to consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, with related phrases like "push myself" or "exert myself" offering subtly different shades of meaning. By understanding its communicative purpose and potential alternatives, you can effectively incorporate "work myself" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exert myself

Focuses on the physical or mental effort expended by oneself.

push myself

Implies challenging one's limits or capabilities.

drive myself

Suggests a forceful or determined effort to achieve something.

strain myself

Indicates pushing oneself to the point of potential injury or exhaustion.

force myself

Highlights the act of compelling oneself to do something against one's will or inclination.

get myself

Emphasizes the action of obtaining or achieving something for oneself.

maneuver myself

Suggests skillfully guiding oneself through a situation.

manipulate myself

Implies influencing oneself, often in a strategic or calculated manner.

talk myself

Suggests persuading oneself through internal dialogue or reasoning.

convince myself

Focuses on the act of persuading oneself to believe something.

FAQs

How can I use "work myself" in a sentence?

You can use "work myself" to describe exerting effort, as in "I "work myself to death"" to meet deadlines, or to describe manipulating one's emotional state, such as "I "work myself into a state"" before a performance.

What can I say instead of "work myself"?

You can use alternatives like "exert myself", "push myself", or "drive myself" depending on the context. "Exert myself" focuses on effort, "push myself" emphasizes challenging limits, and "drive myself" highlights determination.

Is it correct to say "work myself to the bone"?

Yes, the idiom "work myself to the bone" is a valid and vivid way to express working extremely hard and to the point of exhaustion. Similar idioms include ""work myself to death"" and "work myself into the ground".

When is it better to use "improve myself" instead of "work myself"?

"Improve myself" is generally used when referring to overall personal growth or skill enhancement. "Work myself" is more suitable when describing directed effort towards a specific task or state. For example, "I am working myself into better shape" (specific goal) versus "I want to "improve myself" as a person" (general growth).