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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
working work
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE 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
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
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
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
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.
News & Media
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.
News & Media
When working, work.
Science & Research
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
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
51 human-written examples
She's working, working, working.
News & Media
We're just working, working, working like crazy right now.
News & Media
I'll be working, working, working, never stopping".
News & Media
"She just work, work, work".
News & Media
You have to work, work, work every day".
News & Media
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.
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".
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.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
active work
Directly replaces "working work" with a slightly more acceptable phrasing, although still potentially redundant.
work underway
A more concise way to indicate that work is currently happening.
active labor
Replaces "working work" with a more formal and precise term, focusing on the active nature of the labor.
tasks in progress
Emphasizes the state of the tasks as being actively worked on.
ongoing tasks
Shifts the focus to tasks that are currently in progress, suitable for project management contexts.
current projects
Highlights projects that are presently being worked on, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the work.
labor in progress
More emphasis on the labor being done.
in progress
A shorter expression that can indicate something is currently being created or worked on.
sustained effort
Focuses on the continuous and persistent exertion of energy to complete a job.
continuous operation
This phrase is used when the task is an operation that must continue without stop.
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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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested