certain individuals do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain individuals do" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to specific people or groups who perform an action or exhibit a behavior. Example: "While many prefer traditional methods, certain individuals do embrace innovative approaches to problem-solving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Certain individuals do have an addictive-like relationship with particular foods and they can over-eat despite knowing the risks to their health.

The Guardian

Quantifying the influence of genetics and environmental factors on the response to PA may serve to explain why certain individuals do not respond as well to a structured PA program across a variety of outcomes, with implications for how we can modify the training environment to achieve a positive response.

Sports Medicine - Open

All one has to do is look at the current state of affairs in the world's economic system, to realize that perhaps certain individuals don't know, or simply don't care how hard some people have worked over a lifetime, to build up that nest egg, that some pension fund manager or "rogue trader" just squanders in the stock market.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Certain individuals didn't admit it was asbestos.

The New York Times

"In several specific instances, certain individuals did not adhere to the high standards set forth by the intelligence community and its agencies," said Representative Silvestre Reyes, the Texas Democrat who is chairman of the House committee, in a statement.

The New York Times

I wouldn't do that - certain individuals did, but the individual in charge at the moment didn't," said Sherwood.

BBC

"There were certain positives that we can take from it and certain individuals did themselves proud too, but it's not a win.

BBC

He also admitted that his relations with some MOCA staff members had been tense: "Certain individuals did not want me here and have been relentless in painting me in a negative light".

Los Angeles Times

This study cannot rule out the possibility that certain sensitive individuals do experience symptoms related to the stack.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Both reviews conclude with similar findings that soy foods may protect against heart disease because they reduce cholesterol, provide modest protection against breast cancer in certain populations and individuals, do not increase risk for breast cancer, and provide relief from menopausal symptoms.

HuffPost

As a result, certain individuals will do better at one company while others could be worse off.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certain individuals do" when you want to refer to a specific, identifiable group of people without naming them directly.

Common error

Avoid using "certain individuals do" when a more specific term would be clearer or more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing vague.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain individuals do" functions as a subject-verb construction where "certain individuals" acts as the subject, and "do" serves as the auxiliary verb, often followed by a main verb that indicates an action or state. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "certain individuals do" is a grammatically sound way to refer to a specific, though unnamed, group of people. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and indicates its use in contexts where anonymity or generalization is desired. While relatively rare, it appears most frequently in news and media sources and science domains. Related phrases include "some people do" and "specific individuals do", offering similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, be mindful of overgeneralization and ensure it adds clarity rather than vagueness to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some people do

Replaces "certain individuals" with a more general term, indicating a less specific group.

specific individuals do

Emphasizes the specificity of the individuals in question.

particular individuals do

Similar to "specific individuals", highlighting the distinctness of the people involved.

some individuals do

A more general alternative, similar to "some people do".

certain persons do

Uses a more formal term, "persons", instead of "individuals".

select individuals do

Suggests a more exclusive or carefully chosen group.

a few individuals do

Implies a smaller number of people.

some members do

Applicable when referring to members of a group or organization.

various individuals do

Indicates that different people are involved, without specifying who.

a number of individuals do

Indicates a quantity of individuals, without being specific about the size of the number.

FAQs

How can I use "certain individuals do" in a sentence?

You can use "certain individuals do" to refer to specific people without explicitly naming them. For example: "While most employees follow the guidelines, "certain individuals do" not adhere to the dress code."

What are some alternatives to "certain individuals do"?

Some alternatives include "some people do", "specific individuals do", or "particular individuals do", depending on the context and desired level of specificity.

Is it better to say "certain individuals do" or "some individuals do"?

The choice depends on the context. "Certain individuals do" implies a more defined, though unnamed, group, while "some individuals do" is more general.

What's the difference between "certain individuals do" and "specific individuals do"?

"Certain individuals do" suggests that the individuals are known but not named, while "specific individuals do" emphasizes that the individuals are distinctly identified, whether named or not.