Cool MateJobs vs Work
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Jobs
Top 1,000 (very common)
Work
High-frequency chunkA1verb
| Jobs | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dʒɒbz//🇺🇸 //dʒɑbz// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɜːk/","/wɜːks/","/wɜːkt/","/ˈwɜːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɜːrk/","/wɜːrks/","/wɜːrkt/","/ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Positions or roles people do to earn money. | To do a job or task. |
| Example | He found several jobs that matched his skills. | I need to work on my homework before dinner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | full-time jobs, part-time jobs, job market, job seeker, job openings | hard, tirelessly, assiduously, continue to, choose to, prefer to, as, at, for, hard, tirelessly, assiduously, continue to, choose to, prefer to, as, at, for, correctly, effectively, efficiently, seem to, work like a charm, work like magic, work to somebody’s advantage, correctly, effectively, efficiently, seem to, work like a charm, work like magic, work to somebody’s advantage |
| Antonyms | unemployment, leisure | rest, idleness, leisure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'job's' which is possessive., Used as a verb incorrectly., Mispronounced as 'jabs'. | Confused with 'job' vs 'work': 'Job' is a specific role, while 'work' refers to the tasks involved., Using 'work' as a noun in contexts needing a verb: e.g., saying 'I will work tomorrow' instead of 'I will do work tomorrow.', Omitting plural forms: e.g., saying 'We all have work to do' is correct, but learners may mistakenly say 'We all have works to do.' |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal settings. Avoid in very casual contexts where slang terms for work may be preferred. | Use 'work' in professional or casual contexts to refer to tasks or jobs. Avoid using in overly formal settings where a more specific term may be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Jobs vs Work
What's the difference between Jobs and Work?
Jobs: Positions or roles people do to earn money. Work: To do a job or task.
Can you show an example of each?
Jobs: He found several jobs that matched his skills. Work: I need to work on my homework before dinner.
Can I use Jobs and Work interchangeably?
Not always. Jobs and Work are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.