worked to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worked to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that someone was devoted to or was diligently engaged in doing something. For example, "She worked to perfect her painting skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We worked to live.

The New York Times

The excess worked to her advantage.

The New York Times

Detective Roe worked to identify the remains.

The New York Times

Being at Lehman worked to his advantage.

The New Yorker

Mr. Young worked to prove otherwise.

The New York Times

He worked to establish asylum for refugees.

The New York Times

"How we worked to save that money!

The New York Times

His youthful appearance worked to his advantage.

The New York Times

"It worked to perfection," Pitino said.

The New York Times - Sports

We have worked to strengthen the opposition.

The New York Times

He also worked to offer nuanced reviews.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific verbs like "perfect", "establish", or "reduce" to clearly define the outcome of the labor.

Common error

Do not confuse "worked to" with "worked at". Use "worked to" to introduce a goal or an action (e.g. "worked to improve results"), whereas "worked at" should be reserved for locations or specific employers (e.g. "worked at the laboratory").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked to" functions as a transitive verb phrase where the verb "work" is used in the past tense, followed by an infinitive marker "to". It typically introduces an infinitive phrase that explains the objective or purpose of the labor. According to Ludwig AI, it is a standard and widely accepted construction in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worked to" is an essential and versatile component of English prose, used to link an actor's labor with a specific goal or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and widely used across various prestigious sources. Whether used in a biographical context (e.g. "he "worked to" establish asylum") or a scientific one (e.g. "we "worked to" reduce uncertainties"), it remains a reliable choice for writers. It is most frequently found in News & Media, followed by Wiki and Scientific contexts. For those looking to vary their vocabulary, alternatives like "strove to" or "aimed to" can provide more nuance regarding the intensity or intent of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strove to

Increases the emphasis on the intensity and struggle of the effort.

strived to

A variant of strove that is commonly used to express consistent effort.

endeavored to

A more formal and sophisticated alternative often found in literature or business reports.

labored to

Suggests a physically or mentally exhausting level of work.

aimed to

Shifts focus slightly more toward the intention than the physical exertion.

sought to

Common in legal or academic contexts to describe an objective or goal.

struggled to

Explicitly highlights the difficulty or obstacles encountered during the task.

collaborated to

Specifies that the work was done as part of a collective team effort.

attempted to

More neutral and does not necessarily imply success or high intensity.

undertook to

Formal way to describe beginning or committing to a specific task.

FAQs

How do I use "worked to" in a sentence?

You use it to show that someone put in effort to achieve something. For example: "The team "worked to" resolve the technical issues before the launch."

What can I say instead of "worked to"?

You can use alternatives like "strove to", "aimed to", or "endeavored to" depending on how formal you want to be.

Is it "worked to" or "worked for"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. Use "worked to" for an action or goal and "worked for" when referring to a person, company or cause you are serving.

Can "worked to" be used in formal writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal contexts. However, if you want to sound even more professional, you might consider "sought to" or "undertook to".