doing anybody else

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing anybody else" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to actions involving other people, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I can't focus on doing anybody else’s work when I have my own tasks to complete."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's a big moment for all of us who believe that it's only just and only fair for the law to recognize fully the unions of two men or two women who have a loving commitment to each other and aren't doing anybody else one iota of harm.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Neither did anybody else.

The New Yorker

Nor does anybody else.

The Economist

Neither does anybody else".

Independent

And neither did anybody else.

The New York Times - Sports

Nor did anybody else yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

This year, neither does anybody else.

The New York Times - Sports

Nor did anybody else, for that matter.

The Economist

"Does anybody else get this crowd?

The New York Times

Did anybody else react that way?

The New York Times

"Did anybody else see this?" begins Jan Krcmar.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe performing a task that would usually be done by someone else, ensure you use correct possessive forms such as "doing someone else's job" rather than the ungrammatical "doing anybody else".

Common error

Avoid using indefinite pronouns like "anybody" directly after a verb without a proper possessive structure. Instead of "doing anybody else", clarify who is receiving the action by specifying, for example, "doing someone else's work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing anybody else" functions as part of a clause within a sentence. However, according to Ludwig AI analysis, the phrase is grammatically incorrect. The word doing is a verb, but the phrase lacks a clear object or possessive determiner.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "doing anybody else" is considered grammatically incorrect. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms its lack of proper structure and clarity. While it occasionally appears in informal contexts such as news media, it is best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Use clearer alternatives like "doing someone else's work" or "assisting others" to ensure grammatical correctness and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing someone else's

Uses a possessive pronoun to specify whose actions or work are being referred to, correcting the grammatical issue.

doing another person's

Replaces "anybody" with a more specific and grammatically sound phrase.

doing work for someone else

Clarifies that the action involves performing tasks for another person.

performing tasks for another

Focuses on completing specific tasks for someone other than oneself.

fulfilling other people's needs

Highlights the act of satisfying the requirements or desires of other people.

acting on behalf of others

Shifts the focus to acting as a representative, emphasizing the role of acting for other people.

assisting other individuals

Provides a more formal way of saying helping other people.

taking care of others

Highlights the aspect of providing care or support to other people.

helping others

Focuses on the act of providing assistance to other people.

serving others

Emphasizes a sense of duty or service towards other people.

FAQs

How can I correctly phrase a sentence using "doing" to refer to someone else's task?

Instead of saying something like "doing anybody else", which is grammatically incorrect, use a possessive form such as "doing "someone else's"" or specify the task, like "doing someone else's job".

Is "doing anybody else" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "doing anybody else" is not grammatically correct in standard English. A more appropriate phrase would be "doing "someone else's work"" or "doing "another person's job"".

What is a better way to express the idea of performing a task that belongs to another person?

You can use phrases like "doing someone else's job", "taking over someone else's responsibilities", or "handling another person's tasks" to convey the same idea with better grammatical structure.

What are some alternatives to "doing anybody else" that are grammatically correct?

Consider using phrases like "doing work for "someone else"", "taking on "another person's duties"", or "assisting others" depending on the context.