noun a preliminary or initial stage of work, especially in preparation for further development or progress
Spadework can also be used in construction to refer to the initial groundwork or preparation work before a project begins.
Spadework refers to the manual labor of digging, turning, and preparing soil for planting crops.
Metaphorically, spadework can be used in research to describe the foundational work of gathering data or information before conducting more in-depth analysis.
In gardening, spadework involves using a spade to dig and prepare the soil for planting flowers, vegetables, or other plants.
In the context of a writer, 'spadework' can refer to the research and groundwork that goes into writing a piece, such as gathering information, conducting interviews, and doing background research.
For a psychologist, 'spadework' might involve the initial assessment and data collection phase of therapy, where the therapist gathers information about the client's history, symptoms, and needs.
In the field of history, 'spadework' can refer to the painstaking research and archival work that historians undertake to uncover and interpret historical events and sources.
Journalists may use 'spadework' to describe the investigative work they do to uncover stories, gather facts, and interview sources before writing an article or report.
Scientists may refer to 'spadework' as the preliminary research and experimentation they conduct to lay the foundation for more in-depth studies and discoveries.
In archaeology, 'spadework' is the physical excavation and careful digging that archaeologists do to uncover and study artifacts and remains from the past.