in work
in work — phrase
1. if a project, piece of writing, or task is in work, it is currently being worked
if a project, piece of writing, or task is in work, it is currently being worked on and is not yet finished
Yasmin showed us the report she has in work for the marketing department.
present tense: has in work [project]
The new playground design is still in work, so the builders have not started yet.
passive sense: is still in work
With three articles in work at once, Ada asked her editor for more time.
Several bridge projects are in work across the region this summer.
- under way
slightly more formal; common in news and official reports
- in progress
more widely used across all registers; sounds slightly more formal
- being done
less common as a fixed phrase; more of a general description
文法句型
be + in work
用法筆記
Unlike 'under way' or 'in progress', this phrase is most common in workplace and project-management contexts. It is almost always used predicatively after a form of 'be'.
常見錯誤
2. engaged in a period of practical training or learning a trade, often as part of
engaged in a period of practical training or learning a trade, often as part of a scheme that combines study with hands-on experience
After finishing school, Gabriela spent two years in work as a trainee chef.
temporal: spent [time] in work as [role]
Ryan is in work at a local garage, learning how to repair diesel engines.
The government programme keeps young people in work while they earn a qualification.
Yara is in work at a care home, training to be a senior assistant.
- in training
more direct and internationally understood; less tied to British employment schemes
- on a traineeship
more specific; refers to a formal training programme
- apprenticed
specifically for trades that follow the apprenticeship model
- out of work
unemployed; opposite condition
- qualified
having completed training and gained full professional status
文法句型
be + in work
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British and often appears in discussions of vocational training or government employment schemes. It is the opposite of 'out of work' (unemployed) but more specifically refers to training-based employment rather than a permanent job.