to start the work vs to start work

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'To start the work' is used when referring to a specific, defined task or project. 'To start work' refers to beginning a job or task in a broader, more general sense.

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Last updated: March 18, 2025 • 5422 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a specific, defined task or project.

"to start the work"

This phrase is used when talking about beginning a particular task or project. It implies a specific work assignment or project that is being initiated.

Examples:

I need to start the work on the new marketing campaign.
Let's start the work on the website redesign project.

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That's how he's managed to start the work.
My office was only able to start the work with the complainants at full speed from the beginning of this year.
It is very good to start the work of this new Parliament with programmes which can make a difference, both to the environment and, of course, to the competitiveness needs of our Member States.
A successful outcome of the Ad Hoc Committee meeting would be a decision to start the work on the Convention, by setting up a UN working group to receive contributions and prepare recommendations for the substance of the Convention.
For that reason, the aim to start the work of the agency promptly next year is absolutely the right one, and the report by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy is firmly in favour of this aim.
Accordingly it should be possible to start the work of the Paediatric Committee within six month.
In the light of the progress made in seeking support for the project from the local population the Commission welcomes the decision of the Italian authorities to start the works on the geognostic tunnel La Maddalena in the coming weeks.
Deutsche Bahn AG is prepared to fit 130000 railway wagons with 'whisper' brakes and wants to start the conversion work soon.
We are getting ready, of course, to start the practical work.
In the field of interoperability for card schemes and infrastructures, the Eurosystem strongly encourages the EPC to start the technical work as soon as possible.
So the US has to start the serious work of clearing up who those people are, and we have to break with them.
In November 2004 when Leipzig Airport decided to start the construction works for the southern runway DHL had not yet entered into a legally binding commitment to move to Leipzig Airport.
The 2004 Co-operation Agreement was therefore re-negotiated, since the Municipality considered it of the utmost importance to start the construction works on the Damplein.
Equipment acquired prior to the start of the work programme
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to start the main construction works for its new premises in spring 2010.
This would allow the Commission to start the preparatory work for setting up the agency in the spring of this year, with the target of having the agency operational by January 2005.
It would be possible to plan the port, and it would be possible to start the building work soon.
Mr President, I should like to start by acknowledging the work which Mr Lehne has put into this report, even though I have not always agreed with him.
In all probability, we ought to start work in the field of administrative law as well.
It is good that there is emphasis on us now having to start on the real work.

Alternatives:

to begin the work
to commence the work
to initiate the work
to kick off the work
to get started on the work

This phrase is correct and commonly used in a more general sense when referring to beginning a job or task.

"to start work"

This phrase is used when talking about starting work in a general sense, without specifying a particular task or project. It is a more broad and general way of expressing the beginning of work.

Examples:

Let's start work on the new project.
I need to start work on my presentation.

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I am determined to cut down the time required and have already instructed my staff to start work.
It is time to start work, and I would like to thank Mr Stubb and Mr Friedrich and, indeed, everyone else who has made a contribution to this process so far.
I'm about to start work.
Whenever you are asked, all you say is "We plan to start work".
Is the Commission further aware that the Polish Government's decision to start work has been taken before its own enquiries into alterative and less damaging routes have been completed?
The time to start work on these problems is now and we need a more committed political will from all our governments, our industries and our finance ministers than we have at the present time.
I'm supposed to start work here tonight.
We plan to start work as soon as possible.
Are you returning to Giribraja to start work?
In all probability, we ought to start work in the field of administrative law as well.
This working group is about to start work.
They are ready to start work again immediately.
We welcome the fact that Europol has finally been able to start work.
The Agency is scheduled to start work on 1 January 2007.
The Commission is going to start work on State aid for this sector.
A building permit is an authorisation to start work on a building project.
On 26 September 2007 Parliament considered, at first reading, the proposal for a European Institute of Technology, which is to start work in 2008.
I've been doing some soul searching - I'm just not ready to start work yet.
We need you all back at the office Right now to start work on it.
She's sick, and I have to start work on the Post.

Alternatives:

to begin work
to commence work
to initiate work
to kick off work
to get started on work

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to start the work vs to start work

"to start the work"

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