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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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Has been hard at work

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been hard at work" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when you want to express that someone has been diligently working on a task. For example, "Nina has been hard at work all weekend preparing for her upcoming presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"The executive committee has been hard at work," Mason said.

Since then it has been hard at work burnishing its fine-watchmaking credentials.

News & Media

The New York Times

The kitchen has been hard at work on that soup, but it has covered its tracks.

Visa has been hard at work on a mobile digital wallet that it hopes to roll out early next year.

News & Media

The New York Times

He has been hard at work, alone and unaided, on canvases of fruit and foetuses, flowers and skulls.

Does this really sound as though a government has been hard at work for five years tackling the problem?

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Since then the frackers have been hard at work.

News & Media

The Economist

Ms. DePietro remarked that he had been hard at work.

News & Media

The New York Times

We've been hard at work preparing for our spring show on Saturday April 27, 4-6pm.

Fortunately, social scientists have been hard at work on the answers.

People, sometimes known as self-quants, have been hard at work in the medical arena.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

Use "has been hard at work" to highlight consistent effort and dedication over a period. For example, "The development team has been hard at work to deliver the new features on time."

⚠ Common error

Ensure that when using "has been hard at work", it's clear what the subject has been working on. A vague statement like "The company has been hard at work" lacks impact without specifying the project or goal.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been hard at work" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone or something has dedicated significant effort and time to a particular task or activity. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

6%

⚠ Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been hard at work" is a versatile and grammatically correct way to describe dedicated and consistent effort over a period. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what the subject has been working on. Alternatives include phrases like "has been diligently working" or "has been working tirelessly". Remember, "has been hard at work" implies ongoing effort, differentiating it from "is working hard", which describes present effort.

FAQs

How can I use "has been hard at work" in a sentence?

Use "has been hard at work" to describe someone or a group who has dedicated effort and time to a task. For example, "The research team "has been hard at work" analyzing the data."

What are some alternatives to "has been hard at work"?

You can use alternatives like "has been diligently working", "has been working tirelessly", or "has been dedicated to" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "has been hard at work" in formal writing?

Yes, "has been hard at work" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. While it's not overly formal, it's a clear and professional way to describe dedicated effort.

What's the difference between "has been hard at work" and "is working hard"?

"Has been hard at work" implies ongoing effort over a period, while "is working hard" describes effort happening at the present moment. For example, "The team "has been hard at work" all week" versus "The team "is working hard" right now to meet the deadline".

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: