Cool MateDuty vs Work
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Duty
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Work
High-frequency chunkA1verb
| Duty | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdjuːti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈduːti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/wɜːk/","/wɜːks/","/wɜːkt/","/ˈwɜːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɜːrk/","/wɜːrks/","/wɜːrkt/","/ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A responsibility or job that someone must do. | To do a job or task. |
| Example | He felt it was his duty to help the less fortunate. | I need to work on my homework before dinner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | B1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | contractual, legal, statutory, have, owe, carry out, call, under a/the duty, duty of, duty to, a breach of duty, do your duty by somebody, be duty bound to do something, light, onerous, day, have, pull, see, fall to somebody, manager, officer, doctor, off duty, on duty, the execution of your duties, the performance of your duties, light, onerous, day, have, pull, see, fall to somebody, manager, officer, doctor, off duty, on duty, the execution of your duties, the performance of your duties, heavy, high, low, amount, impose, slap on somebody/something, increase, be payable, in duty, duty on | hard, tirelessly, assiduously, continue to, choose to, prefer to, as, at, for, hard, tirelessly, assiduously, continue to, choose to, prefer to, as, at, for, correctly, effectively, efficiently, seem to, work like a charm, work like magic, work to somebody’s advantage, correctly, effectively, efficiently, seem to, work like a charm, work like magic, work to somebody’s advantage |
| Antonyms | irresponsibility, neglect | rest, idleness, leisure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'dutie', incorrect spelling., Using 'duty' with a subject instead of a verb; 'duty to help' not 'duty help'., Not using it with the correct preposition, often omitting 'to'. | Confused with 'job' vs 'work': 'Job' is a specific role, while 'work' refers to the tasks involved., Using 'work' as a noun in contexts needing a verb: e.g., saying 'I will work tomorrow' instead of 'I will do work tomorrow.', Omitting plural forms: e.g., saying 'We all have work to do' is correct, but learners may mistakenly say 'We all have works to do.' |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Often relates to moral or legal responsibilities. Avoid using it in casual conversations where lighter terms like 'task' may fit better. | Use 'work' in professional or casual contexts to refer to tasks or jobs. Avoid using in overly formal settings where a more specific term may be preferred. |
Frequently asked questions: Duty vs Work
What's the difference between Duty and Work?
Duty: A responsibility or job that someone must do. Work: To do a job or task.
Are Duty and Work the same CEFR level?
Duty: B1, Work: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Duty and Work interchangeably?
Not always. Duty and Work are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.