are doing now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are doing now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions that are currently taking place at the moment of speaking or writing. Example: "I wonder what they are doing now, considering the event has just started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Tells what they are doing now.

The New Yorker

So that's what we are doing now.

The New York Times

That is what they are doing now.

The Guardian - Opinion

What they are doing now is making the impossible, possible.

Independent

What we are doing now is building the map".

The New York Times - Health

That's kind of what the Gen-Xers are doing now".

The New York Times

"We have to adjust everything, what we are doing now.

The New York Times - Sports

It's better to imagine what those characters are doing now".

Independent

What we are doing now is very different".

The New York Times

"What we are doing now is passing the ball around".

The New York Times

"Just like the three of us are doing now".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "are doing now" when referring to habitual or recurring actions. In those cases, use the present simple tense (e.g., "they do this every day").

Common error

Avoid using "are doing now" to describe future actions. Use future tenses or expressions like "are going to do" or "will be doing" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are doing now" functions as a present progressive construction, indicating an action or activity that is currently in progress. Ludwig confirms this is a correct usage, with many examples showing its function in describing ongoing situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are doing now" is a grammatically correct and commonly used present progressive construction. It is used to describe actions happening at the present moment, suitable for various contexts ranging from news and media to everyday conversations. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness and provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in describing ongoing situations. Remember to use it to describe current actions and avoid it for future or habitual actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are currently doing

Emphasizes the present time frame more directly using "currently".

are presently doing

Uses "presently" as a synonym for "currently", maintaining the present action focus.

are performing now

Replaces "doing" with "performing", suggesting a more formal or specific action.

are undertaking currently

Uses "undertaking" to imply a task or project being done at the moment.

are engaging in now

Focuses on the act of participating or being involved in something.

are occupied with now

Highlights the state of being busy or engaged with something at the moment.

are in the process of doing

Specifies that an action is underway and not yet completed.

are working on currently

Suggests effort and activity towards a specific goal or task.

are busy doing now

Highlights the state of being actively engaged or occupied at present.

are active in now

Implies involvement or participation in a specific activity at the moment.

FAQs

How can I use "are doing now" in a sentence?

Use "are doing now" to describe actions happening at the present moment, such as, "They "are doing now" what they were told to do".

What are some alternatives to "are doing now"?

You can use alternatives like "are currently doing", "are presently doing", or "are in the process of doing" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "are doing now"?

Yes, "are doing now" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe ongoing actions.

What is the difference between "are doing" and "are doing now"?

"are doing" refers to general ongoing actions, while "are doing now" specifies that the action is happening at this precise moment.