working extra hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working extra hours" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to putting in additional time beyond regular working hours. For example, "She is working extra hours to meet the project deadline." Alternative expressions include "putting in overtime" and "working additional hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

He was working extra hours, he said, to make up for his slowed pace.

The New York Times

The proportion of staff working extra hours continues to increase – the figure now stands at 73%.

The Guardian

I've been working extra hours to cope, at first often finishing in the middle of the night.

Independent

Close may now be working extra hours to keep Jeter a Yankee at a salary he and the team can live with.

The New York Times - Sports

The office that handles loan modifications has expanded its staff by 30percentt since January, and servicing teams have been working extra hours and on weekends, she said.

The New York Times

Students are increasingly relying on their parents, working extra hours during term time and – in some cases – taking out payday loans to cover the cost of accommodation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

No one disputed that Ms. Coke had worked extra hours for no extra pay.

The New York Times

If they are willing to work extra hours, I want that time devoted to paid work.

The New York Times

People got promotions, pay raises, worked extra hours, and built up informal side businesses.

The New York Times

Others, however, worked extra hours during their day jobs to pay for the football expenses.

The New York Times - Sports

Often I had to work extra hours to pay back the lost money.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific situation, use "working extra hours" to highlight the additional time dedicated to work, especially when it's outside the normal schedule. For example, "The team is "working extra hours" to meet the project deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "working extra hours" when you specifically mean overtime pay or compensation. Overtime has legal and financial implications, while "working extra hours" is a more general description of time spent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working extra hours" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun in a sentence. It describes the act of dedicating additional time to work, as illustrated by Ludwig examples where it modifies subjects or objects, such as "Students are increasingly relying on… "working extra hours" during term time."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "working extra hours" is a common and grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the act of dedicating additional time to work beyond the standard schedule. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its frequent usage in news, science, and business contexts. While the phrase has a neutral register, it's important to distinguish it from "working overtime", which has specific legal and financial implications. The AI analysis confirms that this phrase is widely accepted and readily understood, offering a versatile way to communicate the concept of extended work time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

putting in overtime

Emphasizes the concept of exceeding regular working hours, often with the implication of receiving additional pay.

working overtime

A more concise way of expressing the concept of working beyond regular hours.

putting in extra time

Focuses on the additional time spent working, without explicitly mentioning work hours.

putting in additional hours

Similar to "working extra hours", but emphasizes the addition of more time rather than exceeding a standard.

putting in longer hours

Implies that the duration of work is extended, not just the presence of extra time.

working extended hours

Similar to "putting in longer hours", emphasizing a continuous stretch of work beyond regular hours.

working beyond standard hours

More formal, indicating a departure from the typical work schedule.

going the extra mile

Idiomatic expression meaning to put in more effort than is expected, not necessarily time-related.

burning the midnight oil

Idiomatic expression for working late into the night, emphasizing dedication and effort.

doubling shifts

Refers to working back-to-back shifts, usually in professions where shifts are the standard working period.

FAQs

How do I use "working extra hours" in a sentence?

You can use "working extra hours" to describe situations where someone is dedicating additional time to their job beyond their regular schedule. For example: "She is "working extra hours" to complete the report on time."

What's a less formal way to say "working extra hours"?

Informally, you could say someone is "putting in overtime" or "putting in extra time".

Is there a difference between "working extra hours" and "working overtime"?

"Working extra hours" is a general term for working beyond the regular schedule, while "working overtime" often implies that the extra time is compensated, which is a term with legal and financial implications. "Putting in extra time" is a more generic form.

What phrases are similar to "working extra hours" that emphasize effort?

Phrases like "going the extra mile" or "burning the midnight oil" can be used, although they don't strictly refer to extra time, instead emphasizing dedication.