believe doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believe doing" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a belief in the act of doing something, but it lacks grammatical structure and clarity. Example: "I believe doing the right thing is important for our community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

It's, I believe, doing the right thing.

The Guardian

I believe doing so contributed to his knee injury, which required surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

That's O.K.; I believe doing crossword puzzles burns plenty of calories anyway, even if it's just in our gray matter.

The New York Times

We are happy to help them develop that genius, and we believe doing so will increase engagement in all culture.

Independent

Boys often blame lack of time, while many girls missed breakfast because they believe doing so would help them lose weight.

The Guardian

I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Some, we believe did not".

The Guardian

"I was just like, Believe, don't fear, believe".

The New York Times - Sports

But believing doesn't make it so.

The New York Times

Numbers, he believes, do not lie.

The New York Times

I do believe, I do.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing a belief in an action, use the phrase "believe in doing" or rephrase the sentence to include "believe that doing" for grammatical correctness. For example, instead of "I believe doing this is right", say "I believe in doing this" or "I believe that doing this is right".

Common error

Avoid directly using a gerund (verb ending in -ing) after "believe" without the preposition "in" or rephrasing with "that". Saying "I believe doing something" is grammatically incorrect. Use "I believe in doing something" or "I believe that doing something is..." instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believe doing" functions as a verb followed by a gerund phrase. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and requires the preposition "in" to be grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "believe doing" is a grammatically incorrect construction, though it appears relatively frequently in various sources, particularly in News & Media. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as needing correction. To express a similar meaning correctly, use ""believe in doing"" or rephrase the sentence to include the word "that," such as "believe that doing something is...". While the phrase may appear in informal writing, it's best to avoid it in formal or academic contexts to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believe in doing

This alternative uses the preposition "in" to create a grammatically correct and more common phrasing.

believe it is right to do

This version expands the phrase to explicitly state that the action is considered right or correct.

think it's right to do

Replaces "believe" with "think" to convey a similar sense of conviction, while keeping the rest of the sentence the same.

consider doing

This phrase replaces "believe" with a verb that focuses on evaluating or contemplating the action.

hold the conviction of doing

This alternative replaces "believe" with a more formal expression of holding a strong conviction.

deem it appropriate to do

This alternative uses "deem" to suggest a more considered judgment about the appropriateness of the action.

regard doing as important

Focuses on the importance of the action, rather than simply believing in it.

consider oneself to be doing

This alternative focuses on the self-perception of engaging in the action.

have faith in doing

Replaces "believe" with "have faith in" to emphasize a stronger sense of trust or conviction.

I am a believer in action

This changes the structure to emphasize the individual's commitment to action.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "believe" with a gerund?

To use "believe" with a gerund (a verb ending in -ing), insert the preposition "in" or rephrase to use "that". For example, say "I "believe in doing" the right thing" or "I believe that doing the right thing is important".

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "believe doing"?

A grammatically sound alternative is ""believe in doing"". This construction correctly uses the preposition "in" to link the verb "believe" with the gerund phrase.

Is it ever correct to say "believe doing"?

While you might encounter "believe doing" in informal contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for constructions like ""believe in doing"" or "believe that doing" to ensure clarity and correctness.

How does "believe in doing" differ from "believe that doing"?

"Believe in doing" emphasizes a general conviction or value, while "believe that doing" introduces a specific clause expressing a belief about the action. For example, "I believe in helping others" vs. "I believe that helping others is essential for a strong community".