Differences between two words Hard work and Hard-working in English

Both Hard work and Hard-working mean "working diligently". However, their their parts of speeches and positions in a sentence are completely different. In this article, PREP will help you understand the definitions, synonyms, and differences between Hard work and Hard-working. Take a look below!

I. What is Hard work?

In English, Hard is pronounced /hɑːrd/ and functions as an adjective and adverb, meaning: difficult to understand, do, experience, or deal with; needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort. Work is pronounced /wɜːrk/ and functions as a noun and verb, meaning: an activity, such as a job, that a person uses physical or mental effort to do, usually for money; to do a job, especially the job you do to earn money.

When combined, we have the noun phrase Hard work, which means: a great deal of effort or endurance. For example:

• It's hard work shoveling snow. 
• Anna’s success in the project is a testament to her dedication and hard work. 

Synonyms for Hard work:

II. What is Hard-working?

What is Hard-working? According to the Cambridge and Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, Hard-working (or commonly written as Hardworking) is pronounced /ˌhɑːrdˈwɜːr.kɪŋ/. Hard-working functions as an adjective, meaning: always doing a lot of work; always putting a lot of effort and care into work. For example:

• Harry was always very hard-working at school.
• We want to thank our hard-working volunteers.

Some words and phrases associated with Hard-working:

Synonyms for Hard-working:

III. Differences between Hard work and Hard-working

Hard work and Hard-working can be translated to mean "effort and diligent work". However, their word types and positions in a sentence are completely different. Let's explore them with PREP below!

IV. Exercise to distinguish Hard work and Hard-working

To differentiate between Hard work and Hard-working, let’s complete the exercise provided by PREP below!

Exercise: Choose the correct answer: Hard work or Hard-working

1. Linda has always been known for her __________.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
2. Success in this field requires a combination of talent and __________.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
3. Rocker is a consistently __________ student who never gives up.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
4. The project's completion was a result of the team's __________ and dedication.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
5. Maison put a lot of __________ into preparing for the exam.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
6. Working in the mechanic factory requires a lot of _______.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
7. I can’t understand why Jackson doesn't like _______.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
8. Businessmen need to be _______.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
9. The more you want to win the market, the more _______ you have to do.
   1. Hard work
   2. Hard-working
10. Those who are not _______ are easily fired by the boss.
    1. Hard work
    2. Hard-working

Answer:

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. A
6. A
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. B

PREP hopes that through this article, you have grasped the definitions, usage, and differences between Hard work and Hard-working. Keep following PREP to stay updated with useful English grammar knowledge! Good luck!