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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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working work

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working work" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a type of work that is actively being done, but the redundancy makes it confusing. Example: "The project requires a lot of working work to meet the deadline, but we are making progress."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It's almost as utopian to my mind as France's 35-hour working work, and look where that's got the French.

News & Media

Independent

The Common Good: March 21 2001 Nursery nurse, Bridgend Salary: £12,500 I'm a special needs nursery nurse working work in observation classes at Bryntirion Infant School.

News & Media

The Guardian

In his op-ed, Myles describes "modern slavery" as praying on the women and girls who are lured against their will into the commercial sex trade, or the farm workers, domestic workers and factory workers who are induced through force, fraud or coercion into working work long hours in terrible conditions for little or no pay.

Traidcraft plc is one the leading fair trade campaigners, working work with more than 100 producers in over 30 countries: the coffee beans come from small co-operatives, traidcraft.co.uk Tesco stock 25 fair-trade coffee brands, three of which are their own label.

When working, work.

Science & Research

Science Magazine

When you're desperate, you aren't self-aware; you're merely clinging on trying to make something that isn't working work.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She's working, working, working.

We're just working, working, working like crazy right now.

News & Media

The New York Times

I'll be working, working, working, never stopping".

News & Media

The New York Times

"She just work, work, work".

You have to work, work, work every day".

News & Media

Independent
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "working work" due to its redundancy. Instead, opt for more precise and commonly accepted alternatives like "active work" or "work in progress" to clearly convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Using "working work" often adds unnecessary words. Instead of saying "I'm doing working work", try "I'm actively working" or "I'm working on a task". The clearer and concise option improves communication.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working work" functions as a redundant expression, attempting to describe work that is currently being done. However, the combination is generally considered incorrect as clarified by Ludwig AI. A more grammatically accepted and comprehensible phrase should be used in place of "working work".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "working work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and redundant. While it appears in some sources, as identified by Ludwig, its use is infrequent and lacks consistency. More precise alternatives such as "active work", "work in progress", or simply "working" are recommended for clearer communication. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its non-standard nature, suggesting that writers should avoid this phrase in favor of more established and grammatically sound options.

FAQs

Is "working work" grammatically correct?

No, "working work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. It's better to use phrases like "active work" or "work in progress".

What are some alternatives to "working work"?

Alternatives include "active work", "work underway", "tasks in progress", or simply "working", depending on the context.

When is it acceptable to use "working work"?

While generally discouraged, "working work" might be used colloquially or informally to emphasize the action of working, although clearer alternatives are usually preferable. For example, you might hear someone say, "We're just "working working" like crazy right now"

How does "working work" compare to "work in progress"?

"Work in progress" is a standard and widely accepted term to describe something that is currently being developed or completed. "Working work" lacks this established usage and is often considered redundant; therefore, "work in progress" is generally the better choice.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: