been doing today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been doing today" is not correct in standard written English as it lacks a subject and auxiliary verb.
It can be used in informal spoken English, but it requires context to be clear, such as in a conversation about activities. Example: "What have you been doing today?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

What's he been doing today?

The Guardian - Film

This is what we've been doing today!

Independent

That's what we've been doing today, playing with the weird".

The New York Times - Arts

Hi, Mick! Do you remember what you've been doing today?

The Guardian - Music

On that train, he was approached by a stranger who said, hardly able to speak through guffaws, "I know everything you've been doing today".

Independent

That wasn't easy on these greens, but in the heat of Open battle, you can't afford to keep missing those, and that's what Johnson has been doing today.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"We've been doing this week to week.

The New Yorker

TT: What has the UA been doing this summer?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Instead, I've been doing Christmas.

Huffington Post

Justice has been done today.

The Guardian

"An injustice has been done today.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about someone's activities, use the grammatically correct form "What have you been doing today?" for clear and effective communication.

Common error

Avoid omitting the auxiliary verb "have" when forming the present perfect continuous tense. Saying "been doing today" lacks grammatical structure and can confuse your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been doing today", while common in informal speech, functions as an incomplete question or statement. As Ludwig AI points out, it lacks a necessary auxiliary verb for grammatical correctness. It attempts to inquire about or describe activities undertaken during the current day.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "been doing today" is encountered in various sources, including News & Media, Academia and Science, Ludwig AI advises that it is grammatically incorrect in standard written English due to the omission of the auxiliary verb. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's better to opt for phrases such as "What have you been doing today?" or "What are you doing today?" The informal nature of "been doing today" makes it suitable only for casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What are you doing today?

Direct question about current activities, more grammatically sound.

What have you been up to today?

Informal way to ask about someone's activities.

What's been going on with you today?

Focuses on the person's experiences and happenings.

How did you spend your day?

Focuses on the entirety of the day's activities, already completed.

What activities have filled your day?

More formal way of asking about the day's activities.

What tasks have you accomplished today?

Highlights completed tasks, emphasizing productivity.

How has your day unfolded?

Poetic and reflective way of asking about the day's events.

What occupies your time today?

Inquires about the person's use of time and schedule.

What projects are you engaged in today?

Emphasizes involvement in specific projects or tasks.

How are you occupying yourself today?

Focuses on how someone is keeping busy or entertained.

FAQs

How to properly ask about someone's activities for the day?

The correct phrasing is "What "have you been doing today"?" This ensures proper grammar and clarity.

What can I say instead of "been doing today"?

Use alternatives like "What "are you doing today"?" or "What "have you been up to today"?" to maintain grammatical correctness and natural flow.

Is "been doing today" grammatically correct?

No, "been doing today" is grammatically incorrect because it lacks the necessary auxiliary verb "have". The correct form is "have been doing today".

What's the difference between "been doing today" and "have been doing today"?

"Been doing today" is an incomplete phrase. "Have been doing today" is the grammatically correct present perfect continuous tense, used to ask about activities that have been ongoing.