worked on and off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worked on and off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has been engaged in an activity intermittently or sporadically, rather than continuously. Example: "I worked on and off for several months to complete the project, fitting it in between other commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Although she has no formal training as an economist, she has worked on and off as a financial regulator in Washington for nearly two decades.

The New Yorker

Ms. Lord said her co-founder, with whom she has worked on and off since 1998, is "the definition of an effective remote worker".

The New York Times

Its three regular singers are joined on some songs by the Panamanian singer and songwriter Rubén Blades, who has worked on and off with Mr. Hernández since 1976.

The New York Times - Arts

(As someone who has worked on and off near Times Square for decades, elbowing my way through the lunch hour crowds, I also appreciate the extra breathing room).

The New York Times - Arts

"Cellulose has physical and chemical properties that make it difficult to access and difficult to break down," explains Caltech's Arnold, who has worked on and off on the biological approach to producing cellulosic ethanol since the 1970s.

MIT Technology Review

Vincent E. Henry rose before dawn on Friday, dressed in his New York Police Department sergeant's uniform and went down to patrol the perimeter of ground zero, a beat he has worked on and off for nearly nine months.

The New York Times

The unit, not yet named, is to be devoted exclusively to advertising, public relations, promotion and interactive marketing for G.M. D'Arcy and predecessor agencies have worked on and off for Cadillac since 1915 and continuously for Pontiac since 1935.

The New York Times

Mr. Crain has worked on and off for Mr. Torricelli for nearly a decade, and had some involvement in nearly all of the fund-raising that the campaign did.

The New York Times

The former BBC1 controller, who has worked on and off at the BBC for almost 35 years, said that the opportunity at the Fox co-owned TV production group was "simply irresistible".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Disclosure: Eric and I have worked on-and-off together for five years.

TechCrunch

Upon returning to New York, Tracy worked on and off-camera as a decorator at her mother's design firm after receiving her certification in interior decorating.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's employment history, use "worked on and off" to accurately reflect periods of both employment and unemployment or engagement in other activities.

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the time frame or context when using "worked on and off". Without additional information, the reader may not understand the duration or frequency of the work periods.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked on and off" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, typically describing the manner in which someone performed a job or task. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is a valid and usable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "worked on and off" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe intermittent employment or engagement in a task. As Ludwig AI points out, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, academia and informal conversations. When using this phrase, it is important to provide enough context to clarify the duration and frequency of the work periods. Alternative phrases like "worked sporadically" or "worked intermittently" can be used to convey a similar meaning, but the specific choice depends on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worked sporadically

This alternative emphasizes the irregular nature of the work.

worked intermittently

This alternative highlights the breaks or intervals between periods of work.

worked occasionally

This alternative suggests that the work was not a regular occurrence.

worked from time to time

This alternative conveys the idea that the work happened at various points without a set schedule.

worked now and then

This alternative implies infrequent and irregular work periods.

worked in fits and starts

This alternative paints a picture of the work progressing in bursts of activity followed by pauses.

held a temporary position

This alternative suggests the work was not intended to be permanent.

was employed irregularly

This alternative focuses on the unstable or inconsistent nature of the employment.

had part-time work

This alternative specify that the work was less than full-time and perhaps not continuous.

was a temporary worker

This alternative directly indicates short-term or non-permanent employment.

FAQs

How can I use "worked on and off" in a sentence?

You can use "worked on and off" to describe employment or projects that were not continuous. For example, "She "worked on and off" at the bakery for several years, between raising her children."

What are some alternatives to saying "worked on and off"?

Alternatives include "worked sporadically", "worked intermittently", or "worked occasionally" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "worked on and off" or "worked consistently"?

The choice depends on the accuracy of the description. Use "worked on and off" if the work was not continuous; use "worked consistently" if the work was regular and uninterrupted.

What does "worked on and off" imply about the nature of the work?

It implies that the work was not a full-time or permanent position and that there were periods of unemployment or other activities in between working periods.