amount to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amount to doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is equivalent to or has the same effect as doing something else. Example: "His refusal to participate in the project will amount to doing nothing to help the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Trying to do everything will still amount to doing nothing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There is an enormous amount to do.

The New York Times

We still have a huge amount to do.

The Guardian

"There is a massive amount to do," he said.

The New York Times

I still have a ridiculous amount to do.

The Guardian - Travel

But there's still an enormous amount to do.

The Guardian - Sport

"So, we have a massive amount to do.

Independent

A huge amount to do, and it needs to get done.

The Guardian - Film

"Brian Cant has got a huge amount to do with what I do now.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At this point we don't believe it had a huge amount to do with it".

The New York Times

But sentiment obviously has a tremendous amount to do with how we respond to gifts.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "amount to doing", ensure the sentence clearly establishes what action or situation is being equated to the "doing" part of the phrase. Clarity is key.

Common error

Avoid using "amount to doing" when a simpler verb form would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amount to doing" functions as a linking verb phrase connecting a subject with a gerund phrase. This construction equates the subject's action or state with the act of "doing" something, indicating a consequence or similarity in effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "amount to doing" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something is equivalent to, or results in, a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific articles. Related phrases like "equate to doing" or "result in doing" offer alternative ways to convey a similar meaning. When using this phrase, clarity is essential to ensure the intended equivalence is clearly understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equate to doing

Replaces "amount to" with "equate to", suggesting a direct equivalence.

result in doing

Emphasizes the consequence or outcome of an action.

lead to doing

Highlights the progression or path towards an action.

be tantamount to doing

Uses "tantamount to" to express that something is virtually the same as doing something else.

constitute doing

Indicates that something forms or composes the act of doing.

involve doing

Focuses on the inclusion of an action as part of a larger process.

imply doing

Suggests that an action is indirectly indicated or suggested.

come down to doing

Implies that the essential point is the action being done.

boil down to doing

Similar to "come down to", but suggests a simplification or reduction to the core action.

correspond to doing

Indicates a similarity or analogy with the action being done.

FAQs

How can I use "amount to doing" in a sentence?

Use "amount to doing" when you want to express that a particular action or situation is equivalent to, or has the same effect as, another action. For example, "His silence "amount to doing" nothing to resolve the conflict."

What are some alternatives to "amount to doing"?

Alternatives to "amount to doing" include "equate to doing", "result in doing", or "lead to doing". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "amounts to do" instead of "amount to doing"?

No, "amounts to do" is not grammatically correct in this context. The correct form is "amount to doing", where "doing" is a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).

What's the difference between "amount to doing" and "result in doing"?

"Amount to doing" suggests an equivalence or similarity in effect, while "result in doing" emphasizes a cause-and-effect relationship. For instance, "His negligence "amount to doing" harm" implies his negligence is equivalent to causing harm, whereas "His negligence "result in doing" harm" emphasizes that his negligence caused the harm.