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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Work hard at/on it

Concentration doesn't always come easily. But like anything, it gets better if you work hard at it. Keep trying and soon you'll see the results in your marks.

Hi,

Does "work hard at it" in the above equal "work hard on it?" If not, what are the differences? Thanks.
  

Top answer

The difference is subtle. You work (hard) at acquiring a skill. It suggests gradual improvement toward a goal, striving toward a goal, possibly through many separate episodes over a relatively long time.

  • The difference is subtle.
  • You work (hard) at acquiring a skill.
  • It suggests gradual improvement toward a goal, striving toward a goal, possibly through many separate episodes over a relatively long time.
  • to work hard at losing weight to work hard at controlling your anger to work at improving your memory You work (hard) on a specific project or an object that represents a specific project, often in one period of time.
  • to work on your car (to repair it) to work on an essay that's due in three days to work hard on your backhand (tennis) Of the two, the first is usually more abstract.
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2 Answers
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The difference is subtle. You work (hard) at acquiring a skill. It suggests gradual improvement toward a goal, striving toward a goal, possibly through many separate episodes over a relatively long time.

to work hard at losing weight

to work hard at controlling your anger
to work at improving your memory

You work (hard) on a specific project or an object that rep
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Hi CJ
What does abstract mean here?

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