doing but that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing but that" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when it could be used due to its lack of grammatical structure and clarity. Example: "I was doing but that, which made no sense."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

LaHood said that he told the White House what he was doing but that Obama was not involved.

The Washington Post

Airline executives would have an incentive to do the rational cost-benefit calculation that someone somewhere should be doing but that no one under the current system does.

Harvard University

Clemens said he had no knowledge of what Pettitte was doing, but that is difficult to believe.

The New York Times - Sports

His family were not happy at all about what he was doing but that wouldn't mean they didn't support him.

The Guardian - Books

"I told him it was wrong what he's doing, but that I loved him anyway, as I love the whole world," Mr. Schwartz said.

The New York Times

I think he'd had a swim and a sauna as well – things that you were not supposed to be doing, but that was Paul.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

And if the disaffected of the rich world discover that the costs of their privilege are too high, the danger is that they might no longer fighton behalf of the poor - as Clare Short seems to think they are doing - but that they make common cause with them, against a system which wastes humanity in one way or another, either by insufficiency or excess.

The Guardian

In the past, I would have been calling for O'Brien to grab that "weird sketch" mantle that someone like Will Forte was so good at doing -- but that hasn't really worked out to well for Tim Robinson and Paul Brittain over the last couple of seasons.

Huffington Post

He stated that Marek presented himself as a mature person who understood and accepted his wrong-doing, but that doesn't change the fact that wrongdoing was done and that the crime fit the definition of the obscenity law.

Vice

But doing that is a monumental task.

Los Angeles Times

But he did say that.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the structure "doing but that", consider if a clearer conjunction like "however" or "although" would improve readability.

Common error

Avoid stringing together clauses with "but that" repeatedly. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives such as "however", "although", or breaking longer sentences into shorter, more digestible ones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing but that" functions as a connector, attempting to link two clauses with a sense of contrast. However, the structure is often grammatically weak and can lead to ambiguity. Ludwig AI points out the grammatical issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doing but that" is frequently used across various contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples. However, as Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is grammatically questionable. Its function is to express a contrast, but clearer conjunctions like "however" or "although" often provide better readability and grammatical structure. While prevalent in news and media, it's best to avoid this construction in formal or academic writing to ensure clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing however

Replaces "but that" with "however" to create a clearer contrast, maintaining the action being performed.

although doing so

Uses "although" to introduce a contrast, focusing on the action and its circumstances.

while doing that

Indicates a simultaneous action, emphasizing the timing of the event.

despite doing that

Highlights a contrast or challenge related to the action being performed.

in spite of doing that

Similar to "despite", this phrase emphasizes the action against a hindering factor.

yet while doing it

Introduces a contrast with "yet", followed by an emphasis on the action in progress.

even though doing it

Emphasizes the contrast, indicating the action continues despite a known condition.

but even so

Uses "even so" to show a contrast or concession, regardless of the action.

nonetheless doing so

Highlights that something is done despite a possible reason not to do it.

irrespective of that action

Indicates the action happens regardless of other considerations, clarifying the circumstances.

FAQs

How can I rephrase sentences using "doing but that" for better clarity?

Consider replacing "doing but that" with alternatives like "doing however", "although doing so", or "while doing that" to improve grammatical correctness and readability.

Is "doing but that" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "doing but that" often creates grammatically awkward sentences. It's advisable to use clearer conjunctions for better structure.

What's the difference between "doing but that" and "although doing that"?

"Doing but that" is a less formal and often grammatically weaker way to express contrast. "Although doing that" provides a more structured and grammatically correct way to introduce a contrast.

In what contexts is it best to avoid using "doing but that"?

Avoid using "doing but that" in formal writing, academic papers, or professional communications. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and credibility.