It’s important to set boundaries, especially at work. So, if you already have a ton of work to do, you need to let others know about your capacity.
Is saying you have “a lot of work to do” the right way to go about this?
We’re here to answer that question and to provide some useful alternative phrases for “a lot of work to do” so you can keep communicating effectively!
Other Ways to Say “A Lot of Work to Do”
- An abundance of tasks to complete
- A lot on my plate
- Much to be done
- Lots to do
- Long way to go
- Great deal to do
- So much work to do
- A multitude of tasks to complete
- Many jobs to finish
- Heaps of projects to complete
- Tons of work to get on with
- Jam-packed with work to do
- Various jobs need to get done
- Many projects on the go
- A substantial amount of work to do
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Saying you have “a lot of work to do” is grammatically correct and suitable in informal situations.
- To change up your language, you can say you have “a lot on my plate” as an informal alternative.
- As a formal alternative to this phrase, you can say you have “an abundance of tasks to complete.”
Don’t go anywhere! In the next section, we’ll explore our favorite formal and informal synonyms for “a lot of work to do.”
After that, we’ll discuss the correctness of this phrase. Is there a difference between “a lot” and “lots”?
An Abundance of Tasks to Complete (Formal)
If you’re looking for an especially formal way to say that you have “a lot of work to do,” we would recommend the phrase “an abundance of tasks to complete.”
Although this phrase is fairly wordy, you can use it when you want to sound especially eloquent in formal correspondence. Thus, you can use it in work or school emails to set necessary boundaries when it comes to your capacity!
The phrase “a lot of work to do” can be used in some formal instances, but this alternative is certainly preferable if you want to maintain a formal or professional register.
Let’s see this phrase used in an email example:
Dear Lyle,
As I have an abundance of tasks to complete before the day’s end, I’m afraid I cannot assist you with this research. Perhaps approach one of the vacation clerks for help.
All the best,
Molly
A Lot on My Plate (Informal)
An alternative way of saying “a lot of work to do” is “a lot on my plate.”
This phrase is more idiomatic than the original, so it is suitable to use in informal settings or casual conversations.
We wouldn’t recommend using this phrase when speaking to your boss. However, you can use it if you’re talking to coworkers with whom you have a friendly dynamic.
Let’s see an example of how this phrase might be used in practice:
Dear Heather,
I have a lot on my plate today, but I can have a look at this tomorrow afternoon if that works for you.
All the best,
Benjamin
Is It Correct to Say “A Lot of Work to Do”?
It is correct to say you have “a lot of work to do.” This phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in informal circumstances to let people know that you have a busy day ahead of you!
It is not especially formal, so we wouldn’t recommend using this phrase when speaking to your employer or clients at work. However, it is suitable to use with coworkers where the culture of your company allows it, or if you just have a close relationship with your colleagues.
You can use our list of synonyms to find more formal variations or just to change up your wording from time to time. Regardless, the original phrase is fine to use as well.
Additionally, there are a number of ways that this phrase can be used in practice. See the examples below:
- I have a lot of work to do today
- We have a lot of work to do
- You have a lot of work to do, so I’ll lend you a hand
If you’re here because you’d like to know the difference between “a lot of work to do” and “lots of work to do,” we’ll discuss that next!
Essentially, “lots” is the plural form of “a lot” and it is a tad more informal than the singular form. Nonetheless, “lots” and “a lot” have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably.
Bookmark this page to keep our list of synonyms nearby for future use!