I suggest doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I suggest doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to recommend an action or course of action to someone. Example: "I suggest doing some research before making a final decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

On a practical level what I suggest doing is listening to how a couple introduces or refers to each other.

The New York Times

In his memory, I suggest doing as the audiences of his seventies solo shows used to: stand and give a rousing chorus of "Loooooooooouuuuuuuuuu". Luc Sante's books include "Low Life" and "Kill All Your Darlings".

The New Yorker

I suggest doing only one of these per day, as it will help you to keep thinking about the questions and issues that are raised while you're doing other things.

Science Magazine

I suggest doing a few reverse reference checks.

Huffington Post

This is just a taste; I suggest doing 45-60 minutes, 3-5 times a week for the best results.

Huffington Post

If this is difficult for you, I suggest doing a few minutes of stretching or yoga poses before sitting down to meditate for 15-20 minutes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"And all of that experience," I suggest, "does find its way into your work; it can't not".

Independent

A large number of people who voted to leave the EU, I suggest, did so precisely because they thought it did mean closing the borders.

The Guardian

"I suggested doing something for them in Russia.

The New York Times

One week I suggested doing an animated film.

Vice

"That's when I suggested doing a scientific demonstration to teach people that Brazil is investing and has human potential to do things beyond football".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering a suggestion, clearly state the action you are recommending and provide a brief reason or benefit to enhance its persuasiveness.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple sentences in a paragraph with "I suggest doing". Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "I recommend", "Consider", or rephrasing the suggestion as a question to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I suggest doing" functions as a directive speech act, where the speaker proposes a course of action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a grammatically correct way to offer a recommendation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I suggest doing" is a common and grammatically correct way to offer advice or make a recommendation. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread usage across diverse contexts such as news media, wikis, and scientific publications. While versatile, it's beneficial to vary sentence structure and consider alternative phrases like "I recommend doing" for enhanced clarity and engagement. Be mindful of the context and intended formality to ensure appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I would suggest doing

Adds "would" to soften the suggestion, making it less direct.

I recommend doing

Replaces "suggest" with "recommend", indicating a slightly stronger endorsement.

I advise doing

Substitutes "suggest" with "advise", implying a more authoritative recommendation.

I propose doing

Uses "propose" instead of "suggest", often used in more formal or business contexts.

My suggestion is to do

Rephrases the suggestion using a noun form, which can alter the sentence structure.

I think you should do

Expresses a personal opinion on the best course of action.

Consider doing

Offers a more indirect suggestion, prompting consideration rather than direct action.

Have you thought about doing

Poses the suggestion as a question, making it even less assertive.

It might be helpful to do

Frames the suggestion as potentially beneficial, rather than a direct recommendation.

Doing this might be a good idea

Inverts the structure, focusing on the action and its potential benefit.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I suggest doing" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, use phrases like "I recommend that you do" or "I propose that you consider". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What's a less direct way to say "I suggest doing"?

To soften the suggestion, you could say "You might consider doing" or "It might be helpful to do". These phrases offer options without imposing a strong recommendation.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I suggest to do" instead of "I suggest doing"?

No, the correct grammatical form is "I suggest doing". The verb "suggest" requires a gerund (doing) as its object, not an infinitive (to do).

When is it appropriate to use "I suggest doing"?

Use "I suggest doing" when you want to offer a recommendation or advice on a specific action. It's suitable for various contexts, from informal conversations to professional advice, depending on the surrounding language.