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Earn a living vs make a living

Both "earn a living" and "make a living" are correct phrases in English. They are interchangeable and used to convey the idea of supporting oneself financially through work. There is no significant difference in meaning between the two phrases.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 911 views

Earn a living

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase means to make enough money to support oneself through work or employment.

Examples:

  • She works hard to earn a living for her family.
  • Many people struggle to earn a living in today's economy.
  • I think there must be better ways to earn a living.
  • Writing performance reviews can be an excellent way to earn a living.
  • If our illness is a chronic disability, healing means that we will once again have to work to earn a living.
  • Earn a living from your looks?
  • Never try to earn a living with dice.
  • I actually come here to earn a living.
  • Girl's trying to earn a living here.
  • One has to earn a living sometime.
  • Brooks declared bankruptcy in 1932 and began dancing in nightclubs to earn a living.
  • The things I did, to earn a living...
  • It's impossible to earn a living exclusively from your passion.
  • I was just trying to earn a living here.
  • I should be able to earn a living.
  • Whereas you spend days here to earn a living.
  • Those operators running small businesses are now struggling to earn a living under the new Regulations.
  • We have to live and earn a living in these places.
  • I work part-time jobs to earn a living at least.
  • We would not have to earn a living from them.
  • Writing performance reviews can be an excellent way to earn a living.

Alternatives:

  • make a living
  • support oneself financially
  • live off one's earnings
  • sustain oneself through work
  • provide for oneself through work

make a living

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase means to earn enough money to support oneself through work or employment.

Examples:

  • He decided to move to the city to make a living as an artist.
  • It's not easy to make a living as a freelance writer.
  • Worse ways to make a living.
  • Unfortunately, we have to make a living.
  • Now, only the most specialised predators on the plains can make a living.
  • Bet you could make a living at that.
  • All I want is to make a living.
  • Those businessmen just give me a chance to make a living.
  • Lots of people can't make a living doing what they love.
  • A guy's got to make a living.
  • No one appreciates an honest man trying to make a living.
  • That is an odd way to make a living.
  • He can make a living wherever he wants.
  • I still need to make a living.
  • You know it's hard to make a living.
  • Why, I can't make a living baking for animals.
  • Billy, I need to make a living.
  • Daniel needs his voice to make a living.
  • I still have to make a living.
  • We've both done some bad things to make a living.
  • In his later years, Dodge began to make a living producing political items.

Alternatives:

  • earn a living
  • support oneself financially
  • live off one's earnings
  • sustain oneself through work
  • provide for oneself through work

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