both of us do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of us do" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that two people share the same action or sentiment. Example: "When it comes to enjoying outdoor activities, both of us do our best to participate every weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Both of us do not want our past to be our children's future".

The New York Times

"Both of us do our best to lead our teams," Wade said of himself and Rose.

The New York Times - Sports

That both of us do such things without thinking is a testament to our war-generation parents, but neither of us is mean.

The Guardian - Money

Both of us do a lot of running.

BBC

There are things that the both of us do - and don't do - that I know help our bond, and I'm going to list them here.

Huffington Post

And both of us don't want that.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

So what can those of us who lie closer to the center of that continuum of experience -- I mean that both positively (most of us don't have his challenges) and negatively (most of us don't have his gifts) -- learn from Derek?

Huffington Post

It is not easy, as I would like to see both of us doing well in a Grand Slam. "Both of us are Belgian and it is great.

The Guardian - Sport

Both of us did a lot of research on these areas before implementing them in order to augment our technical competencies.

Cornell University

Asked by Guardian Australia if it was him or the party that changed, Ennis said: "I think both of us did.

The Guardian

Both of us did very poorly in mathematics.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "both of us do" to clearly indicate that two specific individuals are performing the same action or share the same characteristic. This phrasing is particularly useful when contrasting with others who do not share that action or characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using "both of us do" when referring to a group larger than two; instead, opt for phrases like "all of us do" or "we all do" to accurately reflect the number of individuals involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of us do" functions as a subject-verb construction, where "both of us" acts as the compound subject performing the action indicated by the verb "do". This construction, according to Ludwig, indicates shared agency or action. Ludwig provides several examples of this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both of us do" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate shared actions or characteristics between two individuals. Ludwig's analysis reveals that it commonly appears in news, academic, and scientific contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both everyday conversation and formal writing. Alternatives such as "we both do" offer more concise phrasing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it refers to exactly two people and to avoid misusing it with plural subjects. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we both do

Omits the 'of us' for a more concise expression.

the two of us do

Replaces "both" with "the two" for emphasis.

we jointly do

Uses "jointly" to highlight a shared action.

we together do

Emphasizes togetherness in the action.

each of us does

Focuses on individual action while implying both participate.

we share the action of doing

A more verbose way of expressing shared action.

we are both inclined to do

Highlights a shared inclination or tendency.

we mutually engage in

More formal phrasing for shared engagement.

it's something we both do

Shifts the focus to the action itself.

doing it is common for us

Highlights the commonality of the action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "both of us do" to sound more concise?

A more concise alternative to "both of us do" is "we both do". This phrasing is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning in a more streamlined manner.

Is there a difference in formality between "both of us do" and "we both do"?

The difference in formality between "both of us do" and "we both do" is minimal. Both are suitable for most everyday contexts. However, "we both do" may be slightly more common in informal settings.

When is it appropriate to use "both of us do" instead of "each of us does"?

"Both of us do" is appropriate when the action is performed together or as a shared activity. "Each of us does" emphasizes individual performance of the same action. For example, "Both of us do the dishes together" versus "Each of us does their share of chores".

Can I use "both of us do" when referring to more than two people?

No, "both of us do" should only be used when referring to exactly two people. When referring to more than two people, use phrases like "all of us do" or "we all do".