Difference between 'work out' and 'work over'

[Sveta]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #29 "Who has done it?", question 1

The detective story is sometimes called 'whodunit' because the reader has to work ......... who did it, who committed the crime.

(a) in
(b) out
(c) off
(d) over

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #29 "Who has done it?", answer 1

The detective story is sometimes called 'whodunit' because the reader has to work out who did it, who committed the crime.

Correct answer: (b) out

Your answer was: incorrect
The detective story is sometimes called 'whodunit' because the reader has to work over who did it, who committed the crime.
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What is the difference between work out and work over in this sentence?
Thank you

Sveta

[Alan]

Hi Sveta,

Work out is try to find an answer/calculate/deduce. Work over has the suggestion of trying to improve something you have done as in a piece of writing/a musical compostion.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Guy Fawkes Night for You

[Pamela]

Work over and work out are quite different in meaning. In the first case it denotes "redo" and "beat" while in the second case it means "to define""to make up""make a conclusion, deduction" and so on.