Meaning & use
strong work ethic
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Meaning
nounsingular
a firmly held belief that hard work is important and valuable, shown by being diligent and reliable.
Grammar: Used with 'a' or 'a strong work ethic'; it is not usually plural.
Patterns
- have a strong work ethic
- a strong work ethic
Her strong work ethic impressed the manager during the busy season.
He has a strong work ethic and rarely misses a deadline.
A strong work ethic is often listed as a key quality in job ads.
Common combinations
- have a strong work ethic
- Employers look for candidates who have a strong work ethic.
- develop a strong work ethic
- He developed a strong work ethic while working on his family's farm.
- a reputation for a strong work ethic
- She has a reputation for a strong work ethic and careful attention to detail.
- praise someone's strong work ethic
- The coach praised the team's strong work ethic after the long practice.
Synonyms and how they differ
- diligence
- Diligence focuses on careful, persistent effort; a strong work ethic is the underlying attitude or value.
- industriousness
- Industriousness means being habitually busy and productive; a strong work ethic is more about believing hard work matters.
- dedication
- Dedication emphasizes loyalty and commitment to a task or cause, not necessarily to work in general.
Opposites
Word family
- work ethic noun
- the general belief in the value of hard work, without the emphasis on strength.
Commonly confused: strong work ethic or work ethics?
strong work ethic vs work ethics
This plural form usually means the moral rules of a profession, not a personal attitude toward hard work.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'strong work ethic' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is a singular countable expression, so it needs 'a': 'a strong work ethic.' Option 1 omits the article, option 3 changes the meaning to moral rules, and option 4 uses the wrong verb pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “strong work ethic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.