doing subsistence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing subsistence" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear without context.
It could be used in discussions about basic living or survival practices, particularly in relation to agriculture or resource management. Example: "In rural areas, many families are focused on doing subsistence to ensure they have enough food to survive."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But they knew 97% of residents of this undulating land could not afford the bus ride to and entrance fees into the parks to see their own nation's wildlife; that 80% eked out less than $2/day doing subsistence farming.

Huffington Post

I attempt to calculate the amount of hours I've wasted doing subsistence work, completely unrelated to my writing, but I backtrack and try to tell myself that you learn something from everything, be it a co-worker's inflection, a customer's routine, the capacity some people have to smile, always.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And so the question arises: Do subsistence farmers, who select their seeds from year to year, have enough diversity in their fields today to fashion the varieties they will need for tomorrow?" Fowler is convinced that they do not.

The New Yorker

Much of the slash-and-burn forest clearance is done by subsistence farmers in order to grow food to survive.

Independent

A lot of fishing in Hawaii is done for subsistence — a way for working-class people to eat better food than they can afford to buy.

The New York Times - Magazine

Squalor and neglect surround most of the black urban working class even more than it does the subsistence farmer, and constant migration from the countryside continues to exacerbate their misery.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The economy's vulnerability to the weather is heightened by the fact that less than one-third of cropland is irrigated and that much farming is done at subsistence level without modern technology.

The Economist

The crop outlook in the southern African country – where much of the agriculture is still done by subsistence farmers – has deteriorated after a late start to rains in the summer planting season, which usually gets under way in October or November.

The Guardian

Fishing in Lake Turkana is done at subsistence level.

Pastoralism

Gathering insects is mostly done for subsistence uses, but also for sale at local markets.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Few households (13%, n = 34) in Koyiaki cultivate, with most doing it for subsistence.

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing reliance on basic resource gathering for survival, consider using the more common phrase "practicing subsistence" or the simpler term "subsistence farming" instead of "doing subsistence" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "doing subsistence" when you actually mean engaging in commercial or market-oriented activities. Subsistence specifically refers to self-sufficiency, not selling goods for profit. Using phrases like "making a living" or "earning income" would be more suitable in those instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing subsistence" functions as a verb phrase, describing the act of performing activities necessary for basic survival. While Ludwig AI suggests this phrasing is not common, examples show it used to describe engaging in work to sustain life.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doing subsistence" describes the act of performing activities necessary for basic survival, particularly through farming, hunting, or gathering. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI marks it as less common compared to alternatives like "practicing subsistence" or the simpler term "subsistence farming". The usage is fairly consistent across neutral to formal registers and is often seen in discussions about economics, agriculture, and anthropology in News & Media and Science publications. When writing about this concept, consider using the more common and clearer alternatives for better communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practicing subsistence

Replaces "doing" with a more formal verb, implying a deliberate and regular engagement in subsistence activities.

engaging in subsistence

Similar to "practicing subsistence", but emphasizes active participation in subsistence activities.

carrying out subsistence activities

Focuses on the execution of specific tasks related to subsistence.

performing subsistence farming

Specifically relates to agricultural subsistence, emphasizing the act of farming for self-sufficiency.

undertaking subsistence work

Highlights the labor aspect of subsistence, referring to the efforts involved in securing basic needs.

subsistence farming

More concise, directly naming the activity without the verb "doing".

living off the land

Idiomatic expression signifying reliance on natural resources for survival.

subsisting

A shorter and more direct way to convey the concept of living at a subsistence level.

making a living through subsistence

Emphasizes the act of earning a livelihood through subsistence practices.

pursuing subsistence

Suggests an active effort to maintain a subsistence lifestyle.

FAQs

What does "doing subsistence" mean?

"Doing subsistence" refers to engaging in activities, primarily farming, hunting, or gathering, to obtain the basic necessities for survival without significant surplus for trade or profit. It's about self-sufficiency.

What are some alternatives to "doing subsistence"?

Alternatives include "practicing subsistence", "engaging in subsistence", "subsistence farming", or "living off the land", depending on the specific context.

Is "doing subsistence" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "doing subsistence" is less common than alternatives. It's grammatically acceptable but might sound slightly awkward to some native English speakers. Using "practicing subsistence" or "engaging in subsistence" is generally preferred.

In what contexts is "doing subsistence" typically used?

The phrase is often used in discussions about agriculture, economics, and anthropology, particularly when referring to communities or individuals who rely on their own production for survival, as opposed to participating in market economies.