working through the night

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working through the night" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of continuing to work during the nighttime hours, often to meet a deadline or complete a task. Example: "In order to finish the project on time, the team was working through the night to ensure everything was ready for the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The assembly had rushed to finish the draft constitution, working through the night until Friday morning.

The Guardian

I expect tonight [last night] will be a full night, with people working through the night".

Independent

They'd had her working through the night.

The New Yorker

Working through the night and sacrificing sleep can be counterproductive.

The Guardian

Video from the Turkish news agency DHA showed the rescuers working through the night.

The New York Times

She wrote it out in longhand, making no revisions, usually working through the night, alone.

The New York Times

He was focussed — often working through the night — and he was scrappy.

The New Yorker

Working through the night, the ANO operators pursued a potential fix.

The Washington Post

We're at war," Pelloux said after working through the night on Friday.

The Guardian

Many employees have been working through the night talking to clients concerned about the speculation about the firm.

The New York Times

The artists, working through the night, would hear workers on the tracks and go silent, turning out any lights.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "working through the night", ensure the context clearly indicates the purpose and intensity of the work being done. Provide specific details to enhance understanding and impact.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "working through the night" to describe extended work periods. Use varied vocabulary, such as "laboring until dawn" or "maintaining a night shift", to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working through the night" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the action of working during the night, often emphasizing the duration and intensity of the effort. Ludwig showcases examples across various contexts, highlighting its widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "working through the night" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe continuing work during nighttime hours. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread usage across diverse sources. Predominantly found in News & Media, but also present in Science and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase carries a neutral tone. To enhance writing, consider alternatives like "working all night" or "burning the midnight oil" for variation. Be specific about the intensity and purpose of the work to improve clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working all night

This alternative is more concise, omitting "through the".

working late into the night

This alternative slightly modifies the original phrase by adding 'late into'.

toiling through the night

This alternative uses 'toiling' to emphasize the arduous nature of the work.

laboring through the night

Similar to "toiling", this emphasizes the effort involved.

burning the midnight oil

This is an idiomatic expression with a similar meaning, implying intense work late into the night.

persevering through the night

This emphasizes the act of continuing despite difficulties.

pulling an all-nighter

This idiom specifically refers to working throughout the entire night, often to complete a task.

plugging away all night

This suggests steady, persistent work.

keeping vigil through the night

This suggests a more watchful or dedicated effort during the night.

maintaining a night shift

This alternative focuses on the regularly scheduled nature of nighttime work.

FAQs

What does "working through the night" mean?

The phrase "working through the night" means to continue working during the nighttime hours, typically to complete a task or meet a deadline. It implies an extended effort beyond normal working hours.

What can I say instead of "working through the night"?

You can use alternatives like "working all night", "burning the midnight oil", or "pulling an all-nighter" depending on the context.

Is "working through the night" formal or informal?

The phrase "working through the night" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, idioms like "pulling an all-nighter" lean towards informality.

How do I use "working through the night" in a sentence?

You can use "working through the night" to describe efforts to complete tasks or to overcome obstacles during nighttime hours. For example: "The team was "working through the night" to meet the project deadline."