working on the task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working on the task" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of engaging in or completing a specific assignment or job. Example: "I am currently working on the task of preparing the presentation for our meeting next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The only difference being that one group of participants was told they are working on the task "together" with the other participants.

Huffington Post

If they did so, we timed how long they spent working on the task.

The New York Times

"One of the great things about working on the task force was being able to work with Leslie," he said.

The New York Times

Bob Reilly, an F.B.I agent who transferred to the terrorism task force from white-collar cases, said he relishes the challenges that come with working on the task force with a diverse group of agents and detectives.

The New York Times

Celera was started in 1998 and announced that it would determine the entire sequence of three billion DNA units in the human chromosomes in three years, well ahead of the publicly financed Human Genome Project, which had already been working on the task for nearly a decade.

The New York Times

The worst way of doing it — which is, regrettably, the normal way — is that people just go into a new team and start working on the task at hand, and then spend so much time battling different personalities without really being aware of it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Therein, participants were asked to talk or 'think' out loud while working on the tasks.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

You want them to be working on the tasks that are important to each other and collaborating and sharing information in a more dynamic way.

Forbes

The aim of this article is to discuss the design of shift problems and to analyze learning processes occurring when students are working on the tasks.

The Journal of Mathematical Behavior

It will also make sure your day is spent working on the tasks you should be working on, not just the tasks that caught your eye first.

WikiHow

Moreover, rat 6 refused to work on the task at one point, forcing us to terminate this part of the experiment at a lower number of sampled trials than intended (cf. Table 1).

Cerebral Cortex

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "working on the task" to clearly convey active participation and effort directed toward a specific objective. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal communication.

Common error

Avoid replacing the active phrase "working on the task" with a passive construction. For example, instead of saying "The task is being worked on", use "We are working on the task" for clearer and more direct communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working on the task" functions as a gerund phrase acting as part of a prepositional phrase. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It describes the action of actively engaging with a specific duty or assignment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "working on the task" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to convey the ongoing process of engaging with a specific duty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to academic research. While alternatives like "engaged in the task" or "focused on the task" may offer slight variations in emphasis, "working on the task" provides a clear and effective way to express active participation and effort. The phrase is most commonly found in news media and scientific publications. Remember to avoid overuse of the passive voice to maintain clarity and directness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focused on the task

Stresses concentration on the activity.

engaged in the task

Focuses more on the current state of involvement.

concentrating on the task

Highlights the mental effort of focusing.

involved in the task

Highlights participation and connection to the activity.

occupied with the task

Emphasizes that the task is consuming one's time and attention.

handling the task

Conveys the management and execution of the task.

dedicated to the task

Implies a commitment and focus.

addressing the task

Implies dealing directly with the requirements of the task.

tackling the task

Suggests an approach to overcoming challenges within the task.

executing the task

Emphasizes the performance and completion of the task.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "working on the task" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you can use phrases like "engaged in the task", "involved in the task", or "dedicated to the task" depending on the specific context.

What's a simple alternative to "working on the task"?

Simpler alternatives include "focused on the task", "handling the task", or simply "doing the task".

Is "working on the task" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, "working on the task" is generally acceptable in academic writing, especially when describing research processes or student activities. However, more formal synonyms like "addressing the task" might be preferred in certain contexts.

How does "working on the task" differ from "completing the task"?

"Working on the task" implies an ongoing process, while "completing the task" suggests the task has been finished. For example, "I am currently "working on the task"" means you are in the process of doing it, whereas "I have completed the task" means it's done.