work on with

USAGE SUMMARY

"work on with" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
A more appropriate phrase to use in written English is "continue to work on." For example, you might write: "I'm going to continue to work on the project until it is completed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Halfway through the five-year project, Ric knew it would be the only project he would work on with Ken.

The New Yorker

NWSL coaches are welcome to observe their players in national team camps and ask the national team coaching staff for feedback on what to work on with players, she said.

The Guardian - Sport

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who confirmed that Osama bin Laden was a suspect, said he was telephoning General Musharraf for "a specific list of things that we think would be useful for them to work on with us".

The New York Times

"We're focused on finding the best match in a broad variety of parameters … Translators put forward proposals for the project they would like to work on with us, and then our editors work to match up the best translator for the book.

The Guardian - Books

But Haeng's keeping mum on what exactly it might work on with Google beyond infotainment.

TechCrunch

What are three concrete things you work on with clients before sending them out into the world?

Huffington Post

From paper roses to finger paintings, this pinner has pulled together over 200 adorable projects you can work on with your tiny ones for the grandmothers in their life.

Huffington Post

Feasey A few years ago, I did some research with parents where they chose one thing to work on with their child.

The Guardian

But analysts said the main reason for the move would be to simplify shutting down or selling Next Level while Motorola concentrated on increasing its investments in wireless technologies like the ones it will work on with Proxim and Avaya.

The New York Times

I liked the idea of having one project to work on with such an amazing collective of photographers as a group collaboration. .

Huffington Post

Printed drawings, worksheets, figures, transparencies, and handouts are provided as veritable working materials for students to work on with pen, colors, scissors, and glue.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collaborative efforts, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "collaborate on", "work together on", or "partner with" for clear and effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using the construction "work on with". It's grammatically incorrect and can confuse your reader. Instead, clearly define your collaborative relationship using alternatives like "work with" or "collaborate on".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work on with" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Its intended function often revolves around describing collaboration or focusing effort alongside someone. Ludwig indicates that more appropriate alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

23%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "work on with" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig identifies it as grammatically incorrect. This non-standard construction is typically intended to convey collaborative efforts or the process of improving something together, but its use can lead to confusion. For clearer communication, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "work with", "collaborate on", or "work together on", especially in professional or academic contexts. Despite its common occurrence, adhering to standard English is crucial for ensuring your message is accurately and effectively received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work together on

Emphasizes cooperation and shared labor towards a common goal.

collaborate on

Focuses on joint effort and partnership to create something.

cooperate with

Highlights harmonious interaction and teamwork in shared tasks.

develop with

Suggests growth or improvement is achieved through working alongside someone.

partner with

Indicates a formal or strategic alliance for a shared objective.

focus on

Highlights the act of concentrating efforts on a single point.

tackle with

Suggests a collaborative approach to resolving difficulties or problems.

improve with

Highlights making things better by means of collaboration.

address with

Focuses on collaboratively dealing with issues or challenges.

refine with

Implies polishing or perfecting something through joint effort.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "work on with"?

Instead of "work on with", you can use more appropriate alternatives like "work with", "collaborate on", or "work together on" depending on the specific context.

Is "work on with" considered standard English?

No, "work on with" is not considered standard English. It's generally better to use alternatives like "work with" or "collaborate on" for clarity and correctness.

How can I use "work with" correctly in a sentence?

To use "work with" correctly, you might say, "I need to work with the design team on this project" or "She will work with her mentor to improve her skills".

What's the difference between "work on" and "work with"?

"Work on" implies focusing effort on a task or problem, while "work with" suggests collaboration or cooperation with someone or something. For example, "I need to work on this report" versus "I need to work with John on this project".