would be working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be working" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to describe an activity that is expected to be happening in the future. For example: "If I had the qualifications, I would be working in the medical field right now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Another priority would be working mothers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Soon they would be working for President Hillary.

Independent

He showed me the office where I would be working.

The New Yorker

But the anxiety is something I would be working on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But they insisted they would be working diligently anyway.

The New York Times

Both pitchers would be working on three days' rest.

The New York Times - Sports

Upstairs, in the women's gallery, his mother would be working on her paintings and sculptures.

The New York Times

BP officials said they hoped the dome would be working by Monday.

The New York Times - Science

WHEN did scientists first predict that an artificial intelligence system would be working?

The New York Times

"Marcelo pledged that we would be working here for 25 years," Mr. Téllez warned.

The New York Times

So everyone in my class would be working in the computer lab together," she said.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be working" to describe hypothetical or conditional future actions. It often appears in sentences expressing what someone would be doing under certain circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "would be working" when "will be working" is more appropriate. "Will" indicates a definite future action, whereas "would" implies a conditional or hypothetical scenario.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be working" functions as a future progressive verb form in the conditional mood. It describes an action that would be in progress at a point in the future, contingent on certain conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound and widely recognized.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would be working" is a versatile construction used to describe hypothetical or conditional future actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts. It functions as a future progressive verb form in the conditional mood, expressing actions contingent on specific circumstances. While generally neutral in register, its usage is prominent in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are conveying a hypothetical or conditional scenario, distinguishing it from the definite future expressed by "will be working". By understanding its nuances and contexts, you can effectively incorporate "would be working" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shall be working

A more formal and emphatic way of stating future work, often used in legal or official contexts.

will be employed

Replaces "working" with a more formal synonym "employed", emphasizing the state of being hired.

will be laboring

Substitutes "working" with "laboring", suggesting physical or strenuous effort.

are going to work

Expresses the intent to work in the future.

will be in service

Replaces "working" with "in service", emphasizing a role or duty being fulfilled.

will be engaged

Emphasizes involvement or participation in work activities.

will be operational

Shifts the focus to functionality rather than labor, implying something is in a state of operation.

should be operating

Indicates an expectation or recommendation that something will be working or functioning.

could be functioning

Expresses a possibility of something working, using "functioning" to emphasize operational status.

might be active

Expresses the possibility of being in a state of activity, similar to working.

FAQs

How can I use "would be working" in a sentence?

You can use "would be working" to describe a hypothetical or conditional future action. For example, "If I had different qualifications, I "would be working" in another department".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "would be working"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "will be employed", "will be laboring", or "are going to work".

Is there a difference between "would be working" and "will be working"?

"Would be working" implies a conditional or hypothetical future, while "will be working" indicates a definite future action. The choice depends on whether the action is certain or dependent on a condition.

When is it appropriate to use "shall be working" instead of "would be working"?

"Shall be working" is a more formal and emphatic way of stating future work, often used in legal or official contexts. It's generally interchangeable with "will be working" but not with "would be working", which implies a conditional scenario.