doing his homework

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing his homework" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of completing school assignments or studying. Example: "After school, he spent the evening doing his homework to prepare for the upcoming test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's doing his homework, doing his stuff.

The New York Times - Sports

"He should have been doing his homework," Pearlman said.

The New York Times - Sports

Their boy sat doing his homework at the dinner table.

The New York Times

Instead of doing his homework, David was boxing.

The New York Times - Sports

The inside-track doesn't excuse Glass from doing his homework.

The Guardian - Books

Thus your teenager doing his homework with his headphones on may actually be paying attention.

The New York Times - Science

Jake is taking his role very seriously, doing his homework and learning about this Kafka guy.

The New York Times

There, Arun and Vibha are reading a magazine together and Ajay is doing his homework.

The New Yorker

"He hasn't been doing his homework to find the right contractor to do the job".

The New York Times

He just didn't make going to class or doing his homework a priority".

The New York Times - Sports

It's three hours before game time, and Cohen is doing his homework.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "doing his homework" to describe a student completing assigned academic tasks or preparing for schoolwork. It implies a sense of responsibility and effort in their studies.

Common error

Avoid using "doing his homework" to describe professional research or preparation. While the phrase is understandable, it's more appropriate to use terms like "conducting research" or "preparing the analysis" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing his homework" functions as a present participle phrase, acting as a verbal adjective modifying a noun or pronoun. Ludwig confirms this usage, showcasing how it describes an ongoing activity or state of being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doing his homework" is a very common phrase used to describe someone actively completing school assignments. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, particularly news and media and academic settings. While it's generally considered neutral in register, it's important to avoid using it in highly formal or professional situations, where terms like "conducting research" might be more suitable. Remember to reserve this phrase to describe completing academic assignments rather than other kinds of preparations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completing his assignments

Focuses specifically on the act of finishing assigned tasks, a narrower scope than general homework.

working on his schoolwork

A more general term for academic tasks, which can include projects and other activities besides homework.

studying his lessons

Emphasizes the learning and review aspect, rather than just the completion of tasks.

preparing his studies

Highlights preparation for academic work, suggesting a broader scope than daily homework.

applying himself to his schoolwork

Emphasizes the effort and dedication involved in completing academic tasks.

attending to his studies

Implies a consistent effort and dedication towards learning.

taking care of his studies

Highlights the attentiveness and care given to academic pursuits.

fulfilling his academic duties

More formal and emphasizes responsibility in completing scholastic requirements.

concentrating on his lessons

Highlights the focus and attention given to learning and studying.

getting his work done

Focuses on the completion aspect but lacks the specific academic context.

FAQs

How can I use "doing his homework" in a sentence?

You can use "doing his homework" to describe a student completing their assigned schoolwork, for example: "After school, he was "doing his homework" in the library".

What are some alternatives to "doing his homework"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "completing his assignments", "studying his lessons", or "working on his schoolwork".

Is it correct to say "do his homework" instead of "doing his homework"?

"Do his homework" is grammatically correct, but it functions as an imperative or infinitive. "Doing his homework" describes an ongoing action.

What's the difference between "doing his homework" and "doing his research"?

"Doing his homework" typically refers to completing school assignments, while "doing his research" refers to investigating a topic for a project, report, or deeper understanding. The first is more related to academic assignments while the second is more related to an exploratory activity.