doing was that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing was that" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It appears to be an incomplete or fragmented thought and cannot be used effectively without additional context or restructuring. Example: "What I was doing was that I was trying to help."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

And whose doing was that?

The Economist

What he was doing was that most suspicious of activities, the "illegal dead giveaway" -- painting a fence.

Huffington Post

On the Republican side, according to Stone, "The whole idea behind what they were doing was that there had already been one recount of the votes, so we didn't want another.

The New Yorker

"A good indication that I was not thinking about what I was doing was that I could not have picked a more exposed position on the pitch to take the capsule.

The Guardian - Sport

His discography contains some of the finest kiss-offs I know — little couplets to keep tucked away in your pocket, deployed only when you've been freshly wronged: "When you asked how I was doing, was that some kind of joke?" he seethes in "Desolation Row".

The New Yorker

So we're like, 'What the fuck are we going to do?' What we ended up doing was that we would slowly bring down the master output on our mixer, so the front of house engineer would slowly bring it up on his end he had a meter that he was following to keep it at a certain level.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"What you did is that serious a crime.

The New York Times

"All Ruslan did was protect that puck.

The New York Times - Sports

When he did, that was that".

The New York Times

Don't be that owner.

The New York Times

Don't be that leader.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doing was that", ensure the sentence structure is clear and complete to avoid ambiguity. Rephrasing often improves clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "doing was that" as a standalone phrase without a clear subject or complement. This often leads to grammatically incorrect and confusing sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing was that" typically functions as part of a sentence where it introduces or emphasizes a particular action or activity. However, Ludwig AI notes that it's often grammatically awkward and suggests clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "doing was that" appears in various contexts, it's often flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically awkward and unclear. With a "Incorrect" grammatical status, it’s best to rephrase sentences using this construction for improved clarity and impact. As demonstrated in the examples, consider alternatives that directly state the action or use more precise language. Though found in "News & Media" and "Wiki" sources, remember its usage can affect the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what he did entailed

Focuses on the actions performed by someone, providing a formal alternative.

what they undertook involved

Highlights the scope of activities managed or organized.

the essence of his actions included

Emphasizes the core aspects and fundamental actions taken by an individual.

the nature of her work encompassed

Describes the scope and characteristics of someone's professional role or assignments.

the task at hand consisted of

Highlights particular steps taken during a project.

her contributions comprised

Clarifies what a person or team put into a collaborative effort, emphasizing the elements they added.

the process involved carrying out

Focuses on the mechanics of completing something and the specific actions taken.

his responsibilities included performing

Highlights particular job duties and how they are executed.

the execution included

Focuses on how a detailed plan was put into action and identifies specific components.

the operations meant conducting

Focuses on the coordination and the performance of tasks required for a business or project.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence that includes "doing was that" to improve clarity?

Consider alternatives like "What I was doing was...", "The action I took was...", or restructure the sentence to directly state the action without using "doing was that".

Is "doing was that" grammatically correct?

The phrase "doing was that" is often grammatically awkward and can lead to unclear sentences. It's generally better to use clearer and more direct phrasing.

What are some alternatives to "doing was that" that provide a similar meaning?

Alternatives include phrases such as "the main thing was", "the key action was", or "what occurred involved". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it acceptable to use the phrase "doing was that"?

While technically usable, "doing was that" is rarely the most effective or clear way to express an idea. Consider rewriting the sentence for better readability and grammatical correctness.