do the errands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do the errands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to completing various tasks or chores, typically outside the home, such as shopping or paying bills. Example: "I need to do the errands before the store closes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Brunswick "volunteered" to do the errand, taking Ms. Mancuso with him.

The New York Times

First thing next morning, she asked if he'd done the errand.

The New Yorker

He did the errand for her but asked why she didn't get the paper herself.

The New Yorker

(I ended up apologizing for not having done the errand, then told him I'd do it right away).

Huffington Post

It limits how much junk food you get and yet it gives you something to look forward to as a treat for doing the errand.

WikiHow

You can't easily carry more than two passengers, and you certainly can't do the average errand run to Home Depot if you're fetching, say, a bunch of 8-foot lengths of lumber.

Forbes

I do everything, take the car to the repair shop, do all the errands… It would be strange, him doing it after work when I can do it during daytime, obviously.

European Transport Research Review

Sundays, I lie in state like the pope, and Mondays, I do all the errands I can't do during the week".

Huffington Post

She used to do the filing, run errands, answer the phone at 4 a.m.

The New York Times

Judith Warner's anguish over the unfairness of stay-at-home mothers' having to do all the errands and deal with laundry and dirty floors makes me want to scream or cry, or both.

The New York Times

When I wasn't struggling over my prose, I kept occupied with the things she usually did — the daily errands, the grocery shopping, the vacuuming and the cleaning, and, of course, all the cooking.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When listing multiple errands, use parallel structure for clarity. For example, "I need to do the errands: buy groceries, pick up dry cleaning, and mail a package."

Common error

Avoid using "do the errands" for tasks within the home. Errands typically refer to tasks that require leaving the house, such as shopping or visiting the post office. Use "do the chores" instead for household tasks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do the errands" functions as a verbal phrase, where "do" is the verb indicating the action of performing or completing tasks, and "the errands" is the noun phrase specifying what is being done. Ludwig AI confirms its general correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "do the errands" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe the act of completing various tasks outside of the home. Ludwig AI supports this, showing the phrase's regular use across diverse contexts like News & Media, Wiki articles, and Scientific publications. Alternatives such as "run the errands" and "complete the errands" offer similar meanings, though "do the errands" remains a versatile and frequently used choice. To avoid errors, ensure "do the errands" is used for external tasks and not for chores inside the house.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

run the errands

Uses "run" instead of "do", implying a quicker or more efficient completion of tasks.

get the errands done

Focuses on the result of completing the tasks, rather than the action itself.

complete the errands

Replaces "do" with "complete", emphasizing the finishing of all tasks.

take care of the errands

Suggests a responsibility and attentiveness to completing the tasks.

handle the errands

Implies managing and dealing with the tasks effectively.

see to the errands

Similar to "take care of", but with a slightly more formal tone.

attend to the errands

Emphasizes giving attention and focus to the tasks at hand.

perform the errands

A more formal alternative, suggesting a structured or official approach.

execute the errands

Implies a planned and deliberate carrying out of the tasks.

tick off the errands

A more informal alternative, implying marking tasks as completed on a list.

FAQs

What does it mean to "do the errands"?

To "do the errands" means to complete a series of short trips or tasks, usually outside the home, such as shopping, banking, or picking up items.

What can I say instead of "do the errands"?

You can use alternatives like "run the errands", "complete the errands", or "take care of the errands" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "do the errands" or "make the errands"?

"Do the errands" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Make the errands" is not idiomatic and would not be understood in the same way.

Is it more common to "do errands" or "run errands"?

Both "do errands" and "run errands" are common, but "run errands" is arguably slightly more frequent in contemporary usage.