Do you need to know better ways to talk about someone’s work ethic?
You might be a bit concerned that “work ethic” itself is incorrect or informal.
Well, it’s a good thing you came across this article.
After all, we’ll teach you how to say “work ethic” professionally and conversationally, depending on your needs.
Other Ways to Say “Work Ethic”
- Diligence
- Commitment
- Dedication
- Perseverance
- Responsibility
- Professionalism
- Reliability
- Integrity
- Tenacity
- Punctuality
- Ability to work hard
- Consistency
- Initiative
- Discipline
- Productivity
- Morale
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Work ethic” is correct and works really well to talk about how well someone does their job.
- “Diligence” is excellent as a formal synonym if that works better for your tone.
- “Commitment” is a useful informal alternative if you’d like something a bit more casual.
So, keep reading to learn how to describe a good work ethic on a resume. We’ll also explore bad work ethics to help mix things up, both in formal and informal contexts!
Or, you can skip ahead to learn whether it’s correct to say “work ethic.” Then, you’ll know whether it’s something you should be including in your writing in the first place.
Diligence (Formal)
Another way to say “work ethic” is “diligence.” This is an effective term if you’re looking for something a bit more formal.
“Diligence” carries weight in the workplace. It’s a positive synonym and shows that someone is always willing to put their best work into something.
So, you can use this when writing a letter of recommendation about an employee. This could be a good opportunity for you to demonstrate just how committed someone is to their role.
You can also review this sample email to learn a bit more about using it:
Dear Hiring Manager,
Charlotte’s diligence is worth mentioning, as it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.
You won’t find anyone more committed to their role than she is.
All the best,
Jon Carpenter
Alternatively, you can use this term in your cover letter. It’s a great way to show that you have a strong work ethic and that you’re determined to bring it with you to a new workplace.
If you still need help with it, you can review the following cover letter sample:
My diligence is second to none, and I’m proud of the work I put into achieving my goals over the last few years.
Commitment (Informal)
Another word for “work ethic” is “commitment.” You can use this in more informal cases when you’d like to talk about someone’s positive or negative diligence at work.
For instance, you can use this when asking an employee to work harder.
It can be harder to know what to say when you need someone to improve their work ethic.
But referring to their “poor commitment” in an email is one way to do it! Also, it helps that the term itself is a bit more relaxed than “work ethic,” so it’ll sound less aggressive or bossy.
Feel free to review this sample email if you still need help understanding it:
Hi Martin,
I’m afraid you’ve shown poor commitment lately, and I’d like you to improve that.
Is there anything I can do to ensure that will happen?
All the best,
Katherine Tate
You can also use it outside of emails in some cases.
For instance, it’s worth using this to describe yourself in an application. If you have a strong work ethic, a term like this is going to help you stand out quite easily.
So, check out this sample from a resume to learn a bit more:
I have always had a strong commitment to my roles. Therefore, I know I’m going to be a great fit for this one.
Is It Correct to Say “Work Ethic”?
It is correct to say “work ethic.”
It’s professional and allows you to talk about someone’s ability at work. It can be both positive and negative, so you can use it to simply analyze a person’s performance.
Feel free to review this email sample if you still want to know how to use “work ethic” in a sentence:
Dear Mario,
You have a strong work ethic, and I look forward to seeing what you can do.
Let me know if you need anything more from me.
All the best,
Zoe Johansen
However, before using the phrase, make sure you get it right! It’s a common mistake to use “ethics” in the plural form.
Here’s a helpful reminder to show you which is correct:
- Correct: I have a good work ethic.
- Incorrect: His work ethics needs some work.
Also, you can use these extensions to mix things up more:
- Strong work ethic
- Great work ethic
- Diligent work ethic
- Bad work ethic
- Poor work ethic
As you can see, it’s good to put positive and negative adjectives before “work ethic.” Then, you can be more specific about how well someone does their job.
Before you move on, bookmark this page! Then, you can remind yourself of the best synonyms for “work ethic.” After all, you never know when they might come in handy again.