working to pass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working to pass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing efforts or actions aimed at achieving a specific goal, such as passing legislation or an exam. Example: "The committee is working to pass the new environmental regulations before the end of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're working to pass something.

The New York Times

"It means working to pass fundamental ways to make change".

The New Yorker

The report comes as Congress is working to pass a new farm bill.

The New York Times

Stearns said he had been working to pass the legislation for six years.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Companies may, however, make payments to influence peddlers and contribute to committees working to pass or defeat legislative proposals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Legislatures in several other states are working to pass their own versions of our managed care liability law.

The New York Times

Mr. Brooks's accomplishments included working to pass laws to revamp government procurement and to require federal agencies to have inspectors general.

The New York Times

"One of my proudest achievements was working to pass a bill that strengthened the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission," he said.

The New York Times

There wasn't a thing I could have done to save the Old Man, but I'm going to keep working to pass that other stuff along.

The New York Times

Other states, such as West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York have passed or are working to pass new laws to go after suppliers in cases of fatal overdoses.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, the city council is working to pass legislation that would broaden the class of citizens empowered to sue the NYPD for profiling and establish an inspector general.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "working to pass", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being worked on and what the desired outcome of passing it would be. For example, specify "working to pass legislation" or "working to pass a bill".

Common error

Avoid using "working to pass" without specifying the object. For instance, instead of saying "They are working to pass", clarify it to "They are working to pass the budget" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working to pass" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a gerund phrase when used as a noun. It typically describes an ongoing effort or activity aimed at achieving the successful approval or enactment of something, such as a law, bill, or proposal. As stated by Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "working to pass" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to describe active efforts to achieve approval or enactment. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, the phrase conveys a sense of active engagement towards a goal. To enhance clarity, it is recommended to specify the object being worked on, such as "legislation" or "a bill". Alternatives like ""striving to enact"" or ""aiming to implement"" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeking to authorize

Uses "seeking" instead of "working" to convey the intention, and replaces "pass" with "authorize", indicating the granting of permission or power.

aiming to implement

Replaces "working" with "aiming", emphasizing the intention, and replaces "pass" with "implement", focusing on putting something into effect.

striving to enact

Substitutes "working" with "striving", highlighting continuous effort, and replaces "pass" with "enact", giving a sense of formalizing or implementing.

attempting to legislate

Replaces "working" with "attempting", emphasizing the trial aspect, and substitutes "pass" with "legislate" for a focus on law-making.

endeavoring to approve

Replaces "working" with "endeavoring", emphasizing a determined attempt, and replaces "pass" with "approve", focusing on the act of gaining approval.

pushing to ratify

Replaces "working" with "pushing", suggesting a proactive effort, and uses "ratify" instead of "pass" to signify formal validation or agreement.

campaigning to adopt

Substitutes "working" with "campaigning", indicating an organized effort, and replaces "pass" with "adopt", focusing on acceptance or implementation.

laboring to approve

Uses "laboring" instead of "working" to emphasize the difficulty and effort involved, and replaces "pass" with "approve", which stresses the act of gaining approval.

acting to secure

Substitutes "working" with "acting", focusing on taking action, and replaces "pass" with "secure", highlighting the achievement of a guaranteed outcome.

making progress toward approving

This emphasizes incremental advancement rather than a completed action and uses "approving" to suggest endorsement.

FAQs

What does "working to pass" mean?

"Working to pass" means actively putting effort into ensuring that something, usually a law, regulation, or proposal, is approved or enacted.

How can I use "working to pass" in a sentence?

You can say, "The committee is "working to pass" the new environmental regulations" or "Advocates are "working to pass" a national immunity law."

What are some alternatives to "working to pass"?

Alternatives include "striving to enact", "aiming to implement", or "endeavoring to approve", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it correct to say "working at passing" instead of "working to pass"?

While "working at passing" is grammatically acceptable, ""working to pass"" is more common and often preferred, especially in formal contexts. "Working at passing" may imply a focus on the process itself rather than the intended outcome.