doing maintenance

USAGE SUMMARY

"doing maintenance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the process of maintaining something, such as a machine, in order for it to continue working correctly. For example, "The maintenance crew is responsible for doing maintenance on the office's HVAC system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"He was doing maintenance after dinner.

The New Yorker

"They're doing maintenance now?" She tried again.

The New Yorker

The contract workers were doing maintenance, Mr. Haseley said.

The New York Times

"Now is a good time for them to be doing maintenance," she said.

The New York Times

He and his wife need help shifting hay bales and doing maintenance in the stables.

The Guardian - Travel

But they assumed that the sounds were being made by workmen doing maintenance.

The New Yorker

Then it places them in jobs, mostly in city agencies doing maintenance or janitorial work.

The New York Times

His favorite job was doing maintenance for a summer at the headquarters for the transit police.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

But how much do maintenance grants cost?

Independent

He even does maintenance and repair.

The New Yorker

Alex Delgado does maintenance on race cars.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about scheduled or routine tasks, consider using "doing maintenance" to clearly convey the ongoing nature of the work. For instance, "The team is scheduled to start doing maintenance on the server this weekend."

Common error

Avoid using "doing maintenance" when describing solely preventative actions. While preventative measures are part of maintenance, specify the type of action if it's purely preventative, such as "performing inspections" or "applying protective coatings."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing maintenance" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun. It commonly describes the act or process of maintaining something. This is supported by Ludwig's findings, which show it being used in various contexts to denote upkeep and repair activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doing maintenance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used gerund phrase that effectively describes the process of maintaining something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across various contexts. It is most commonly found in news and media, but also appears in scientific, academic, and informal writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects the activity being described and to consider alternatives like "performing upkeep" or "carrying out repairs" for greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

performing upkeep

Focuses on the act of keeping something in good condition, differing slightly in emphasis from broader maintenance activities.

carrying out repairs

Specifically highlights the action of fixing something that is broken or damaged, a subset of overall maintenance.

conducting servicing

Emphasizes the provision of service to ensure proper functioning, typically for machinery or equipment.

undertaking preservation

Implies actions taken to maintain something in its original state, often used for historical or cultural artifacts.

handling repairs

Highlights the management and execution of repairs, similar to carrying out repairs but with a focus on the handling aspect.

executing upkeep

Focuses on the active implementation and management of upkeep tasks.

addressing maintenance

Implies identifying and dealing with maintenance needs or issues, often in a proactive way.

managing servicing

Refers to the overall administration and coordination of servicing activities.

facilitating preservation

Highlights the role of enabling or supporting preservation efforts, rather than directly performing them.

attending to maintenance

Implies giving attention and dealing with maintenance needs promptly.

FAQs

How can I use "doing maintenance" in a sentence?

You can use "doing maintenance" to describe the act of performing tasks to keep something in good working order. For example: "The crew is currently "doing maintenance" on the bridge to ensure its safety."

What are some alternatives to saying "doing maintenance"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "performing upkeep", "carrying out repairs", or "conducting servicing" as alternatives to "doing maintenance".

Is it better to say "doing maintenance" or "performing maintenance"?

Both "doing maintenance" and "performing maintenance" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific tone you want to convey. "Performing maintenance" might sound slightly more formal.

What kind of jobs involve "doing maintenance"?

Many jobs involve "doing maintenance", including mechanics who maintain vehicles, technicians who service equipment, and custodians who perform building upkeep. All these roles involve "doing maintenance" to ensure things work correctly.