denied doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"denied doing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used when someone denies or refutes an action or statement that they have been accused of or that is being discussed. Example: The suspect denied committing the crime, stating that he was at home during the time of the incident.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Rehnquist denied doing so).

The New Yorker

China vehemently denied doing that.

The New York Times

Ms. Eshimbaeva denied doing so.

The New York Times

China has denied doing that.

The New York Times

Sturgeon vehemently denied doing so.

The Guardian

Mr. Schundler denied doing so.

The New York Times

He denied doing anything improper.

The New York Times

She has denied doing so.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Edmondson has denied doing anything wrong.

The New York Times

He has denied doing anything wrong.

The New York Times

Mr. DiNapoli has denied doing anything improper.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "denied doing" when directly refuting an accusation or claim of action. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "denied to do"; the correct structure is "denied doing". For instance, say "He denied stealing the cookies" not "He denied to steal the cookies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "denied doing" functions as a verbal phrase used to negate an action or involvement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in various contexts. It often appears when someone is accused of something and refutes the allegation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

91%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "denied doing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for refuting accusations or disclaiming involvement, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis. It's most commonly found in news and media, but can also be appropriate in informal or formal context. The phrase indicates that someone is explicitly stating that they did not perform a particular action. While the base form is versatile, specific situations may benefit from alternatives like "disclaimed involvement" or "refuted taking action". When using "denied doing", ensure that the gerund form of the verb follows "denied". With an expert rating of 4.5 based on grammatical correctness, source authority, and usage consistency, it's clearly a solid option for expressing denial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refuted taking action

Emphasizes a strong contradiction of having performed a specific action.

disputed having done

Highlights a disagreement or challenge regarding a completed action.

disclaimed involvement

Focuses on explicitly stating a lack of connection or responsibility.

contradicted doing

Emphasizes the presentation of evidence or arguments that oppose the idea of performing an action.

negated participating

Emphasizes the absence of participation in an activity or event.

rejected performing

Highlights the refusal to carry out or engage in something.

disavowed responsibility

Stresses the rejection of any accountability or obligation.

repudiated committing

Suggests a formal and emphatic rejection of an act or statement.

pleaded not guilty

A legal term indicating a formal denial of guilt in a court of law.

declined to do

Focuses on the refusal to perform an action, often implying a choice.

FAQs

How can I use "denied doing" in a sentence?

Use "denied doing" to refute an action attributed to someone. For example, "She "denied doing" anything wrong during the audit".

What's a formal alternative to "denied doing"?

In formal contexts, consider using "refuted taking action" or "disclaimed involvement" as alternatives to "denied doing".

Is it grammatically correct to say "denied to do" instead of "denied doing"?

No, "denied to do" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "denied doing", as the verb "deny" requires a gerund (doing) after it.

What's the difference between "denied doing" and "denied having done"?

"Denied doing" generally refers to denying an action in a more general or immediate sense, while "denied having done" typically refers to denying a completed action or past event. The difference is subtle but impacts the temporal focus.