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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
Has been hard at work
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE 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
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
50 human-written examples
"The executive committee has been hard at work," Mason said.
News & Media
Since then it has been hard at work burnishing its fine-watchmaking credentials.
News & Media
The kitchen has been hard at work on that soup, but it has covered its tracks.
News & Media
Visa has been hard at work on a mobile digital wallet that it hopes to roll out early next year.
News & Media
He has been hard at work, alone and unaided, on canvases of fruit and foetuses, flowers and skulls.
News & Media
Does this really sound as though a government has been hard at work for five years tackling the problem?
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
10 human-written examples
Since then the frackers have been hard at work.
News & Media
Ms. DePietro remarked that he had been hard at work.
News & Media
We've been hard at work preparing for our spring show on Saturday April 27, 4-6pm.
Academia
Fortunately, social scientists have been hard at work on the answers.
News & Media
People, sometimes known as self-quants, have been hard at work in the medical arena.
News & Media
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.
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.
Alternative expressions
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
has been diligently working
Emphasizes the consistent and careful nature of the work being done.
has been working tirelessly
Highlights the relentless and energetic effort put into the work.
has been laboring intensely
Focuses on the high level of effort and exertion involved.
has been dedicated to
Stresses commitment and focus on a specific goal or task.
has been putting in a lot of effort
Directly points out the significant amount of effort invested.
has been toiling away
Implies persistent and possibly arduous work.
More alternative expressions(1)
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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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested