working overtime

USAGE SUMMARY

"working overtime" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone puts in extra hours of work, beyond their normal working hours. For example: "Mandy was working overtime to finish her project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But censors are working overtime.

The Economist

Hormones working overtime".

The New York Times

Ms. Garcia ended up working overtime.

The New York Times

Yahoo's press machine was working overtime.

The Guardian

Picture librarians could be working overtime.

The Guardian

"Dick will be working overtime," Edwards said.

The New York Times - Sports

Sprewell's positive feelings were working overtime.

The New York Times - Sports

By now, Jones is working overtime.

The Guardian

Strobe lights were working overtime for self-contained rock bands.

The New York Times - Arts

"Everybody at the ministry is working overtime to prevent this".

The New York Times

The reference machine is always working overtime in Milan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to indicate either a formal, compensated situation or an informal, uncompensated effort.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "working overtime" with "over time", which refers to a period of time, not the act of working extra hours. Also, when talking about sports use the term overtime, i.e. "The game went into overtime".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working overtime" typically functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun or part of a verb phrase. It describes the activity of working beyond regular hours. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "working overtime" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of working beyond regular hours. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. As evidenced by numerous examples, it appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic settings. While similar phrases like "putting in extra hours" or "going the extra mile" exist, "working overtime" clearly conveys the concept of increased work time. A key writing tip is to avoid confusing it with "over time", which has a different meaning, especially in sports. By understanding its function and usage, you can effectively incorporate "working overtime" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working extra time

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize the additional time spent.

putting in extra hours

Focuses on the additional time spent working.

working extended shifts

Specifically refers to longer work periods than usual.

going the extra mile

Emphasizes exceeding expectations and demonstrating dedication.

exceeding regular working hours

A more formal and descriptive way of saying "working overtime".

exerting additional effort

Highlights the increased energy and dedication applied to a task.

dedicating additional hours

Highlights the commitment of more time to work.

laboring beyond hours

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of expressing the concept.

striving beyond the usual

Focuses on the effort to go beyond what's normally required.

burning the midnight oil

Implies studying or working late into the night.

FAQs

How can I use "working overtime" in a sentence?

You can use "working overtime" to describe situations where someone is putting in extra hours beyond their regular schedule. For example, "The team is "working overtime" to meet the project deadline."

What are some alternatives to saying "working overtime"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "putting in extra hours", "going the extra mile", or "exerting additional effort" instead of "working overtime".

Is "working overtime" grammatically correct?

Yes, "working overtime" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It functions as a gerund phrase or a descriptive phrase depending on its role in the sentence.

What's the difference between "working overtime" and "doing overtime"?

"Working overtime" is more commonly used and generally preferred. "Doing overtime" is less frequent but still understandable, especially in certain regional dialects. Both phrases convey the same meaning of working beyond regular hours.