worked too late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worked too late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone has worked beyond their usual or expected hours, often implying that it was excessive or undesirable. Example: "I felt exhausted the next day because I worked too late on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And after seeing how some housekeepers worked too late to have lunch in the staff dining room, he gave orders that it stay open longer.

The New York Times

For example, get a reminder to turn your meetings into "walking meetings" on any day when it isn't raining, or a reminder to leave the office early if you worked too late the night before.

Harvard Business Review

The audit of one week's time-clock records for roughly 25,000 employees found 1,371 instances in which minors apparently worked too late at night, worked during school hours or worked too many hours in a day.

The New York Times

She decided to live in the Astoria house during the week, and to sell the studio apartment on the Upper East Side she used as a pied-à-terre for the nights she worked too late to go home to New Jersey.

The New York Times

When I've occasionally worked too late the previous evening, I've found myself mentally slacking off at work, surfing the Web, and making extra cups of tea".

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

You work too late.

Harvard Business Review

You feel guilty if you wake up too late, start work too late, take too long to make dinner.

The Guardian

"When I work too late she always makes sure I get the requisite amount of sleep".

The New York Times

Sleep is a better investment in productivity overall than working too late and depriving ourselves of sleep.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are only so many times co-workers can remark, "Don't work too late" or "Aren't you going home?" before the hammering repetition starts to cause a dent in your enjoyment.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There are obligatory scenes in which Jeffreys misses a school play and receives a phone call from his wife pronouncing, "Your dinner's in the dog". There are only so many times co-workers can remark, "Don't work too late" or "Aren't you going home?" before the hammering repetition starts to cause a dent in your enjoyment.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "worked too late", consider the context and whether a more specific phrase might better convey the nuance you intend, such as emphasizing exhaustion, exceeding regular hours, or sacrificing sleep.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "worked too late" in formal writing may sound repetitive or informal. Vary your phrasing with alternatives like "put in long hours" or "worked extended hours" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked too late" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, typically to indicate when or to what extent the action of working occurred. It suggests that the working activity extended to an undesirable or excessive point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and common in usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science & Research

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "worked too late" is a grammatically sound and commonly employed adverbial phrase used to describe working beyond reasonable hours, often implying negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While versatile, consider alternatives like "stayed up late working" or "put in long hours" for nuanced expression. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. Remember to be mindful of overuse in formal writing. Top sources include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worked beyond reasonable hours

Directly states that work extended past what is considered acceptable.

stayed up late working

Specifies staying up until late to work, emphasizing the lateness of the hour.

worked late into the evening

Specifically mentions that work continued until late in the evening.

worked excessively

Emphasizes the excessive nature of the work without specifying the time.

worked overtime

Highlights that work exceeded regular hours, often with implications for pay.

burned the midnight oil

An idiomatic expression for working late into the night, usually studying or working.

labored into the night

Highlights the continued effort of working into the night, often with a sense of strain.

put in long hours

Focuses on the duration of work without necessarily implying it was past a certain time.

toiled until late

Implies hard work extending into the late hours, often suggesting exhaustion.

pulled an all-nighter

Indicates working throughout the entire night, typically to complete a task.

FAQs

How can I use "worked too late" in a sentence?

You can use "worked too late" to describe working beyond usual hours, as in "I felt tired because I "worked too late" last night" or "He realized he "worked too late" when he missed his train."

What are some alternatives to saying "worked too late"?

Alternatives include "stayed up late working", "put in long hours", or "worked overtime", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "worked too late"?

Yes, "worked too late" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe working beyond a reasonable or expected time. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

What's the difference between "worked too late" and "worked late"?

"Worked too late" implies that the lateness of the work had a negative consequence or was excessive. "Worked late", on the other hand, simply indicates working until a late hour without necessarily implying a negative outcome.