doing her best

USAGE SUMMARY

"doing her best" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is trying their hardest, especially in challenging circumstances. Example: Even though she was facing many obstacles, she was determined to succeed and was doing her best to achieve her goal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

She was doing her best.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But Ms. Kruger is doing her best.

The New York Times

Still, Lady Victoria has been doing her best.

Independent

She is tenderly invested in Johnson doing her best.

The New Yorker

Lorraine doing her best Sphinx imitation, Giza, Egypt.

University of California, Berkeley

She was doing her best to ignore them.

The New York Times - Magazine

She's doing her best not to look like a behemoth.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

MEXICO DOING HER BEST.; One Who Has Lived There Twenty-six Years Defends the Government.

The New York Times

But she is doing her best.

Huffington Post

Poor Mrs Patel was just doing her best for her son's education.

The Guardian - Opinion

Doing her best for people like Amini every day, McRostie has found it emotionally tough.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing narratives, use the phrase to show a character's resilience or determination in the face of challenges.

Common error

While "doing her best" is valid, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "giving it her all" or "trying her hardest" to add nuance and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing her best" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating that a female individual is making a significant effort to achieve a goal or manage a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "doing her best" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a female individual who is making a significant effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to be used across various contexts, primarily in news and media, academic writing, and formal business settings. Synonyms such as "giving it her all" and "trying her hardest" can be used to add variety. It’s important to use this phrase judiciously to avoid repetition and maintain writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

giving it her all

Focuses on the effort and energy expended.

trying her hardest

Emphasizes the level of effort being exerted.

putting her best foot forward

Highlights the intention to make a good impression.

making every effort

Stresses the diligence and commitment involved.

exerting maximum effort

Formal and emphasizes the intensity of the effort.

striving to excel

Focuses on the desire for superior performance.

endeavoring to succeed

Formal and emphasizes the aim for a positive outcome.

applying herself diligently

Highlights focused and persistent effort.

working assiduously

A more formal term for working very hard and diligently.

aiming for excellence

Highlights a goal of achieving a very high standard.

FAQs

How can I use "doing her best" in a sentence?

You can use "doing her best" to describe someone who is trying hard in a particular situation. For example, "Despite the challenges, she was "doing her best" to complete the project on time".

What are some alternatives to "doing her best"?

Some alternatives include "giving it her all", "trying her hardest", or "making every effort", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "doing their best" instead of "doing her best"?

Yes, "doing their best" is correct when referring to a group of people or when the gender of the individual is not specified or irrelevant. "Doing her best" is specific to a female individual, while "doing his best" is specific to a male individual.

What does it mean when someone is "doing their best"?

It means they are making a sincere and significant effort to achieve a goal or to perform well in a given situation, even if the circumstances are difficult or the outcome is uncertain.