deny doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"deny doing" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used to convey a refusal to perform an action. For example, "He denied doing anything wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They deny doing wrong.

The Economist

Mr and Mrs Woerth deny doing anything wrong.

The Economist

They did not even deny doing so, as if the contradiction in policy was something trivial.

The New York Times

While printer manufacturers deny doing anything to prevent cartridges sold by third parties from working, reports abound of them malfunctioning.

The New York Times - Tech

It is called a "regift," and lots of people do it, although most will also deny doing it.

The New York Times

Those involved in all this deny doing wrong; and accusations from Britain carried a whiff of bad grace, because England's bid for 2018 failed miserably.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

He denies doing so.

Independent

(Bradley denies doing so).

The New Yorker

(Rehnquist denied doing so).

The New Yorker

Mr. Schundler denied doing so.

The New York Times

China vehemently denied doing that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deny doing" when you want to clearly state that someone is refuting their involvement in a specific action. It's often used in formal contexts, such as news reports or legal documents.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses after "deny". The correct form is "deny doing" (gerund) or "deny having done" (perfect gerund), not "deny to do".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deny doing" functions as a verb phrase where "deny" is the main verb and "doing" is a gerund, acting as the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. This construction indicates a refusal to admit to performing an action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deny doing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase to express a refusal to admit to performing an action. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, reflecting its role in reporting denials of accusations or involvement. While generally neutral in register, it often carries a degree of formality due to its serious implications. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense usage and consider alternative expressions like "refuse to admit doing" or "disavow any involvement in" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refuse to admit doing

Emphasizes a refusal to acknowledge involvement.

disclaim responsibility for doing

Explicitly avoids accepting responsibility.

disavow any involvement in

Highlights a formal denial of connection or responsibility.

decline to acknowledge doing

Focuses on a refusal to recognize or admit an action.

reject having done

Focuses on the rejection of a past action.

dispute the completion of

Suggests a disagreement or challenge regarding whether the act was carried out.

contradict the act of doing

Highlights that an act is being opposed or countered.

invalidate claims of doing

Indicates an attempt to undermine or disprove assertions about an action.

negate having performed

Emphasizes the nullification of a completed action.

repudiate doing

Implies a strong rejection or disavowal of an action.

FAQs

How do I use "deny doing" in a sentence?

Use "deny doing" to indicate a person's refusal to admit to performing a particular action. For example, "He "denied doing" anything wrong".

What are some alternatives to "deny doing"?

You can use phrases like "refuse to admit doing", "disavow any involvement in", or "reject having done" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "deny to do" instead of "deny doing"?

No, "deny to do" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "deny doing" or "deny having done". For example, "She "denied doing" it" is correct, while "She denied to do it" is incorrect.

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

"Deny doing" generally refers to denying an action in a more general or ongoing sense. "Deny having done" emphasizes the denial of a completed action in the past. While both are grammatically correct, "deny having done" often provides a stronger sense of refutation concerning a specific event.