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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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are you doing talking

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are you doing talking" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words that may be attempting to ask about someone's current activity related to talking. Example: "Are you doing any talking during the meeting today?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

What are you doing talking about sodomy?

What are you doing?" "Talking to you".

News & Media

The New Yorker

He asked me jovially: "What are you doing talking to this right-wing loony?" David Elstein, a veteran broadcaster who began his career at the BBC and now, in his late 60s, is a vocal critic of the licence fee, is a more complex figure.

News & Media

The Guardian

So if you really have a story you think you're ready to tell, what are you doing talking to me?

News & Media

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What were you doing talking on the phone to the sexually transmitted infections clinic?

News & Media

The Guardian

What are you doing?" Just random talk helps.

"What are you doing?" can be followed with, "Talking to you" or "sitting on a chair".

If you get meaning right, it won't just be you doing the talking.

THE first rule of withdrawal is you do not talk about withdrawal.

News & Media

The New York Times

The first rule of Fight Club is, You don't talk about Fight Club.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"The general code of the street is you don't talk," said McCracken, 28.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "are you doing talking" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "what are you talking about" or "are you speaking".

Common error

The phrase "are you doing talking" incorrectly combines the present continuous tense with a gerund. Ensure correct verb conjugation by using "what are you talking about" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are you doing talking" functions as an interrogative phrase aimed at inquiring about someone's current conversational activity. While grammatically questionable, the intent is to understand the subject or content of the ongoing discussion. Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are you doing talking" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in formal contexts. Ludwig AI identifies it as such. It appears mostly in informal settings like news media and wikis. For clearer and more accurate communication, consider alternatives like "what are you talking about" or "are you speaking". These alternatives maintain the intent of inquiring about a conversation while adhering to standard English grammar.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with "are you doing talking"?

The phrase "are you doing talking" uses an incorrect verb construction. A correct alternative is "what are you talking about", which uses the present continuous tense correctly.

What can I say instead of "are you doing talking"?

You can use alternatives like "what are you talking about", "are you speaking", or "are you having a conversation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "are you doing talking" or "what are you talking about"?

"What are you talking about" is the grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. "Are you doing talking" is considered incorrect.

How to use "what are you talking about" in a sentence?

You can use "what are you talking about" to ask someone to clarify or explain what they are discussing, such as, "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"

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Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: