“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”
Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist
The problem with “work” and “job” is in the interconnection between the words. To explain the meaning of one, we often have to use the other, which may lead to confusion and misunderstanding. That’s why in this case ample examples are especially important. Let’s analyze the two nouns:
| Work | Job |
| 1. (uncountable noun) if you have work (or you’re in work), you have a job (1).
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1. (countable noun) if you have a job, you’re employed, you have work to do to make money.
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| 2. (uncountable noun) your work is the activities you have to do to make money, it’s your duties, responsibilities, what you are required to do.
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2. (countable noun) your job is your occupation, your post of employment.
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| 3. (uncountable noun) the place where you work is called work.
Examples:
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3. (countable noun) a job is a particular task to accomplish, a challenge to meet.
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| 4. (uncountable noun) work is something you produce as a result of an activity or of doing your job.
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4. (singular noun + to/-ing) if you say that you have a job doing something, you are emphasizing how difficult it is:
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| 5. (countable noun) a work is something such as a painting, book or piece of music produced by an artist, writer or composer.
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5. (countable noun, SLANG) a job is a crime in which money or goods are stolen, or an action /activity that is dishonest or unpleasant.
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| 6. (countable noun: sing. – works, pl. – works) a works is a place where something is manufactured or where an industrial process is carried out.
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Good job (set expression)
If you say that someone is doing a good job, you mean they are doing something very well. Examples:
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So, as you see from the table above, we usually use “work” and “job” in the context of career, employment, making money etc. (see meaning 1, 2, 3, 4 of “work” and meaning 1, 2, 3 of “job”). There are other meanings of the words as well (see meaning 5 and 6 of “work” and meaning 4 and 5 of “job”).
Of course, proper understanding of the meaning of the words is essential for the correct use. However, there are certain “work” and “job” idioms and set expressions (like “good job” in the table above) which are better to be memorized. Make sure to subscribe to our blog to receive useful materials about such expressions and more!
