working on an assignment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'working on an assignment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone who is engaged in completing work that has been assigned to them. For example, "John was working on an assignment for his English class."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

If two students begin working on an assignment as partners and cannot complete it together, at least one student must contact a lead preceptor to request a partnership dissolution.

Princeton University

I very rarely drink alone, even when I'm working on an assignment and away from home, where in the past the bar would always beckon.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Amira and her Children" - Ivor Prickett Documentary photographer Ivor Prickett took this image in Northern Iraq in September 2014 while working on an assignment for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Independent

Ivor Prickett, a London-based documentary photographer, took the image, Amira and her Children, in northern Iraq in September 2014 while working on an assignment for the UN refugee agency.

The Guardian - Arts

A woman working on an assignment to photograph old buildings in Mumbai was raped by five men on Thursday evening in an abandoned textile mill, provoking national outrage similar to that following last year's fatal gang-rape of a physiotherapist in Delhi.

The Guardian

'Group Activity Orientation' (GAO) Q 1 I enjoy working on an assignment with two or three classmates.

Language Testing in Asia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

One current employee said that she was with a male supervisor in a closed-door, one-on-one meeting in 2009 when she asked to work on an assignment.

The New York Times

Although there are times when students productively miss class — to work on an assignment, for example — there are many when they do so against their better judgement.

The Guardian

For admissions officers and for the judges on the 5th Circuit who now must get back to work on an assignment they thought they had completed Justice Kennedy delivers a frustratingly mixed message.

The Economist

A second reason has to do with preventing one form of academic misconduct: some students have been known to submit corrupt or unreadable electronic files in order to buy extra time to work on an assignment.

University of California, Berkeley

To better understand this, we conducted 10 experiments and a survey with nearly 10,000 employees and managers in the U.S. We found that, across occupations, asking for more time to work on an assignment was, on average, perceived positively by managers — and it reduced employees' stress levels and improved their performance.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collaborative efforts, specify the roles of each person "working on an assignment" to clarify individual contributions.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using the phrase "working on an assignment" in formal academic papers. Opt for more precise language to describe the specific tasks involved such as "conducting research", "analyzing data", or "drafting the report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working on an assignment" functions as a verb phrase indicating ongoing action. "Working" acts as a gerund, modifying "assignment". The phrase indicates active engagement in completing a specified task. Ludwig examples confirm its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Science

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "working on an assignment" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes active engagement in a given task. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across diverse contexts. While appropriate for general communication, academic or formal settings might benefit from more specific vocabulary. The phrase is particularly common in News & Media and Academic sources. For increased clarity, specifying roles when describing collaborative efforts is advisable. Common alternatives include "tackling a task" and "undertaking a project", each carrying nuanced differences. When in doubt, remember to tailor your language to the context and audience for the most effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupied with a task

Similar in meaning, yet more generic and can apply to professional or personal duties rather than specified assignments.

tackling a task

Focuses on the act of addressing or dealing with a specific task, rather than specifying it as an assignment.

busy with schoolwork

Specifically mentions academic tasks and could be used in educational contexts.

undertaking a project

Implies a more significant and potentially longer-term effort than a simple assignment.

handling a task

Focuses on the process of managing and executing a particular task.

engaged in coursework

Specifically refers to academic tasks and studies.

dealing with a project

This alternative emphasizes the act of managing or addressing issues that may arise within the task.

handling a responsibility

Emphasizes the obligatory or accountable nature of the task.

attending to assigned work

Highlights the focus on the specific work that was allocated or assigned.

occupied with duties

Highlights the state of being busy or actively involved with required tasks.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "working on an assignment" to sound more professional?

Consider using phrases like "undertaking a project", "managing a task", or "executing a deliverable" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "working at an assignment" instead of "working on an assignment"?

While "working at" can sometimes imply effort, "working on an assignment" is the more common and grammatically preferred phrasing when referring to tasks or projects.

What's a more creative way to say I'm "working on an assignment"?

Depending on the specific work, you could say you're "immersed in research", "engrossed in analysis", or "focused on completion".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "working on an assignment"?

It's suitable in most contexts to describe being actively engaged in completing a task, whether it's academic, professional, or personal. However, formality might dictate a more specific choice of words.