working on and off

USAGE SUMMARY

"working on and off" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something which is being done, but not in a regular or consistent manner. For example, "I've been working on and off on my project over the past few weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Instead, Waters has been working "on and off" for the last year with Ian Hall, an English playwright best known for the screenplay (and, later, libretto) for Billy Elliot.

The Guardian - Music

I will go on working on and off.

The Guardian

You can be working on and off all through the night, then you go back into work the next day.

The Guardian - Money

The Chrome Cranks have been working on and off since 1988, beginning in Cincinnati, and are more interested in force and momentum than texture or harmony.

The New Yorker

He has spent years working on and off as a day laborer, moving stones on construction sites, and commuting long distances over rough dirt roads.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Every day I see how hard these guys are working on and off the field to become better players and become a better team," Clarke said.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Since then, the liquid waste gathering part of the toilet has been working on-and-off.

TechCrunch

After working on-and-off in the industry for nearly a decade, Hancock quit his job last January when his hours were drastically cut back, he said.

BBC

This year, one week wasn't enough to complete the game, so Ying and Nayak say they've continued working on-and-off on the game in the two months since.

TechCrunch

The pair brought in the Army Corps of Engineers to check the area for any contamination, and after getting the all-clear, Francisco began working on-and-off on a years-long project to transform the property.

Vice

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

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "working on and off", ensure the context clearly indicates the project or task being addressed. This phrase is most effective when the irregular nature of the work is relevant to the overall message.

Common error

Avoid using "working on and off" when the work is consistently part-time. This phrase implies greater irregularity than a standard part-time position.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working on and off" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the intermittent or irregular nature of the work being described. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "working on and off" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe irregular or intermittent work patterns. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys that an activity isn't continuous. The phrase appears frequently in news and media contexts, and related phrases like "sporadically working" or "intermittently employed" can offer alternative ways to express the same concept. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the project or task being addressed, and avoid using it when the work is consistently part-time. Overall, "working on and off" is a useful phrase for accurately depicting the discontinuous nature of work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadically working

Replaces "on and off" with "sporadically", emphasizing the irregular nature of the work.

intermittently employed

Uses "intermittently employed" to highlight the irregular nature of employment.

occasionally working

Substitutes "on and off" with "occasionally", focusing on the infrequency of the work.

part-time and irregular work

Highlights both the reduced hours and the inconsistency of the work schedule.

working in fits and starts

Replaces the phrase with an idiomatic expression indicating irregular activity.

irregularly employed

Focuses on the lack of regularity in the employment.

episodically working

Uses "episodically" to emphasize the intermittent nature of the work.

now and then employed

Highlights that the work is not consistent, occurring only "now and then".

perpetual temporary work

Indicates a state of ongoing temporary employment.

patchy employment history

Describes a history of employment marked by gaps and inconsistency.

FAQs

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

You can use "working on and off" to describe inconsistent work patterns, like "I've been "working on and off" on this project for months".

What is a similar expression to "working on and off"?

Alternatives include "sporadically working", "intermittently employed", or "occasionally working".

Is it correct to say "worked on and off"?

Yes, "worked on and off" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct, as in "She "worked on and off" as a consultant for several years".

What does it mean to say someone is "working on and off"?

It means they are engaged in work, but not continuously or regularly; there are periods of activity interspersed with periods of inactivity. For example, someone might be "working on and off" while also attending school or managing other responsibilities.