Work on means to spend time creating or improving something (a project, a text, a skill), or to try to persuade someone. Usually it is something you make or improve step by step: work on a report, work on your accent. If you are working on a person, they haven't agreed yet and you are slowly persuading them: I'm still working on my boss.
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work on + project/task; work on + skill/weakness; be working on + noun; work on + person
- Our team is working on a new booking app for small hotels.
- I need to work on my listening, so I watch the news in English.
- Dad didn't want a dog, but we worked on him for a month and he finally agreed.
What changed
First versionThis month I'm working over my pronunciation.
RevisionThis month I'm working on my pronunciation.
Over or above may seem to fit here, but for a project or a skill English uses work on: working on my pronunciation. Over is not used in this meaning.
Don't confuse work on with work for and work at. Work for names your employer, work at your place of work, and work on what you are busy with: I work for a bank, and now I'm working on a new mobile app.
Your turn
My speaking is fine, but I need to ___ my grammar before the exam.
Show the answer
work on — Grammar needs improving, which means working on a skill, and that is what work on is for. Work out means to figure something out or to exercise, and it does not go with a skill in this sense.
Choose a skill you are improving right now: English, driving, cooking. Say what exactly you are working on and how often you practise.
I'm working on my English pronunciation, especially the th sound, and I practise for ten minutes every morning.
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