yesterday's work

USAGE SUMMARY

"yesterday's work" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you can use it to refer to something that was done the day before: "I finished yesterday's work before lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Royce had been told that he deserved a day off, after yesterday's work.

The New Yorker

The middle-aged man walking across Finsbury Park while drinking a Yazoo in yesterday's work suit now has his official anthem.

The Guardian - Music

Baffert, who was waiting to assess yesterday's work to decide whether Captain Steve would start in the Preakness, said he would send the colt to Pimlico tomorrow.

The New York Times - Sports

I wake up anywhere between 4am and 10am, depending on the merriments of the night before or if a dream jolts me, then scribble, type or slash through yesterday's work till I start to feel a little sick from not eating.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"That's not today's work force".

The New York Times

But that's just the reality of today's work world.

TechCrunch

What's supposed to happen when today's neglected children become tomorrow's work force?

The New York Times

"Miss Carney, we reviewed last week's work yesterday".

The New Yorker

Today's high school students are tomorrow's work force.

The New York Times

He has not been paid for his last week's work.

The New York Times

This day's objective: Students would review last week's work.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "yesterday's work", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific tasks or projects are being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "yesterday's work" when referring to tasks that were planned for yesterday but not actually completed. Instead, use phrases like "the incomplete tasks from yesterday" or "tasks deferred from yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "yesterday's work" functions as a possessive noun phrase, modifying a noun to specify that the work pertains to the previous day. This is consistent with Ludwig's AI analysis that confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, indicating a clear and direct reference to tasks completed on the previous day.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "yesterday's work" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase used to denote tasks, efforts, or assignments completed on the previous day. According to Ludwig, its usage is correct and clear. While relatively infrequent compared to other common phrases, it is versatile enough for professional, neutral, and even informal contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase serves to establish a clear temporal reference for discussions about progress, review, or future planning. Understanding the nuances of its usage ensures accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous day's tasks

Replaces "work" with "tasks" for a slightly more specific meaning, focusing on individual items of work.

work from yesterday

Reorders the phrase for a simpler, less formal construction.

yesterday's efforts

Substitutes "work" with "efforts" to emphasize the exertion involved.

the prior day's assignment

Uses "assignment" instead of "work", suggesting a more structured or academic context.

what was done yesterday

Expresses the idea as a clause rather than a possessive noun phrase.

yesterday's labor

Replaces "work" with the more formal term "labor".

the completed tasks of yesterday

Adds emphasis to the completed nature of the tasks.

the day before's activities

Uses "activities" for a broader scope, including non-work related tasks.

the work concluded yesterday

Emphasizes completion by using a passive voice construction.

the work of the preceding day

Replaces "yesterday" with the more formal "preceding day".

FAQs

How can I use "yesterday's work" in a sentence?

You can use "yesterday's work" to refer to tasks or assignments completed on the previous day. For example, "I reviewed "yesterday's work" and made some revisions".

What's a less formal way to say "yesterday's work"?

A less formal way to say "yesterday's work" is "work from yesterday". For instance, "Let's go over the "work from yesterday" during the meeting".

Is it correct to use "yesterday's work" in a professional setting?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to use "yesterday's work" in a professional setting, especially when discussing progress, reviewing completed tasks, or planning future steps based on previous efforts. Using the phrase contributes to efficient communication without being overly informal.

What's the difference between "yesterday's work" and "last week's work"?

"Yesterday's work" refers specifically to tasks or assignments completed on the day before today, while "last week's work" refers to tasks completed during the entire previous week. The timeframe is the key difference.