"To think is an intellectual work": Good grammar?

Question

Is that phrase grammatically correct?

Wouldn't it be the same as:
  To think is an intellectual labor.
   To think is an intellectual occupation.
    To think is an intellectual effort.
    To think is an intellectual production. 

Are those ^^ phrases grammatically correct?

Thank you for your help!  :-)

Bazza · Accepted Answer

Before you get to naming WHAT it is, this is an infinitive versus gerund issue.

Yes - you can use an infinitive as the subject of the sentence. But be aware: you sound like René Descartes.

Infinitives emphasize the POSSIBILITY or potential for something and sound more philosophical. 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

And here, you are talking about the ACT of thinking, rather than 'man's capacity for thought'.

THEN - are you emphasizing that it is a cognitive activity; or that it takes labour, effort?
So - choose:
Thinking is an intellectual effort. (emphasizing 'intellectual', as opposed to all the other kinds of effort in life e.g. heavy lifting: physical effort
Thinking is intellectual effort.  (emphasizing  the effort entailed in deep contemplation of a matter).

Ya didn't think it wus so complicated, did yus.

Anonymous · Answer

i would use a semi colon or comma after - to think - for emphasis

however my grammar skills are often awry


they all have slightly different meanings also


i like the work one best - because it is also evocative of the arts and effort

"To think is an intellectual work": Good grammar?

2 Answers