work the land

USAGE SUMMARY

'work the land' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe the physical activity of taking care of the land to support agricultural activity, for example: The family had worked the land for generations, supporting the local community.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He initially intended for men to come from the Netherlands and work the land; he considered those already settled in the Indies to be lazy.

Wikipedia

Before, everyone used to work the land.

Independent

"If not, I'll stay here and work the land.

The New York Times

Three families work the land as a co-operative.

Independent

Most of those who remain here work the land.

The Guardian - Travel

Mr Sumer argues that he needs as many sons as possible to work the land.

The Economist

The moon matters, Mr. O'Toole says, as people who work the land discovered long ago.

The New York Times

You can work the land, doing all the hard labor of tilling, sowing, irrigating and harvesting.

The New York Times

immigrants brought over from India to work the land after the abolition of slavery.

The New Yorker

"I'll try and work the land to buy it myself," she says.

The Guardian

They are supposed to get vocational training, subsidized employment, seeds and tools to work the land.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "work the land", ensure the context clearly indicates agricultural labor or cultivation. Avoid using it metaphorically unless the intended meaning is unmistakable.

Common error

Avoid using "work the land" in contexts where the activity is not directly related to agriculture. For example, using it to describe general land management or construction activities can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work the land" primarily functions as a verb phrase, describing the action of cultivating and managing land for agricultural purposes. Ludwig examples confirm its use in active voice to depict farming activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

9%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "work the land" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe agricultural labor. As Ludwig AI indicates, its straightforward meaning and frequent appearance in diverse sources, especially News & Media, Wiki and Science, highlight its relevance across different domains. To ensure correct usage, focus on contexts related to farming and avoid overly broad applications. While alternatives like ""farm the land"" or ""cultivate the soil"" exist, "work the land" remains a clear and effective way to describe the activities of farmers and agricultural workers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cultivate the soil

Focuses on the act of preparing and using the soil for growing crops.

farm the land

A more general term referring to the practice of agriculture.

till the soil

Emphasizes the preparation of the land for planting.

cultivate the fields

Highlights the act of nurturing and growing crops in open areas.

manage the farmland

Focuses on the operational and supervisory aspect of agricultural land use.

engage in agriculture

A broader term encompassing all aspects of agricultural activities.

practice husbandry

Refers to the care and cultivation of plants and animals.

grow crops

Highlights the specific activity of producing agricultural yields.

tend the crops

Focuses on the ongoing care and maintenance of growing plants.

develop agricultural land

Emphasizes the process of improving land for agricultural purposes.

FAQs

How can I use "work the land" in a sentence?

You can use "work the land" to describe the activity of farming or cultivating the soil. For example, "My family has "worked the land" for generations."

What is a good substitute for "work the land"?

Alternatives to "work the land" include "farm the land", "cultivate the soil", or "till the soil".

What does it mean to "work the land"?

"Work the land" means to engage in agricultural activities, such as planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops.

Is it correct to say "works the land" instead of "work the land"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "work the land" with plural subjects (e.g., "They "work the land""), and "works the land" with singular subjects (e.g., "He "works the land"").