drift into doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drift into doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual or unintentional transition into an activity or behavior. Example: "As the evening progressed, I found myself drifting into doing more work than I had planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Scientists can easily get stipends, and therefore drift into doing a PhD.

The Economist

Hunters become farmers, farmers manufacturers, and manufacturers drift into doing something vaguely post-industrial in the service sector.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

You know how sometimes you lie in bed at night and think, "What if the law of gravity just wears out and lets go and I drift into space?" Does that ever make you anxious?

The New York Times

Still, he thinks, more needs to be done to give young Muslims "a place where they can go and talk to people" if they are to avoid the lure of radicalism.Those who drift into extremism do so for many of the same reasons as those who drift into gang violence indeed, the same people have been known to get into both.

The Economist

It turns smartly, has great steering feel (none of that spongy, better-not-tune-the-radio-or-you-might-drift-into-a-ditch sensation) and doesn't rock on its feet even if you drive it aggressively.

Forbes

Drifting Into Nothingness.

Vice

Mr. Champlin and Mr. Joe eventually drifted into regular jobs, doing design work on projects for Family Circle magazine.

The New York Times

And drift it does.

The Guardian - Travel

Therefore to show that the gap is not caused by genetic drift, it is not proper to use 1/3 as the probability of a TE being in the gap region due to genetic drift, as this does not take into account the null hypothesis of genetic drift (the probability decay wrt size of the difference).

Biology Direct

In Mr Cusick's day it was different: a job you could drift into when other careers did not work out.

The Economist

Julian and Mia do drift into marriage, but only as a kind of afterthought, once Mia has been thrown into a tailspin by her mother's fatal illness.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drift into doing" to describe a gradual, often unplanned, transition into an activity, especially when there's a sense of lack of deliberate intention. For example, "After initially volunteering, she drifted into doing more administrative work."

Common error

Avoid using "drift into doing" when describing sudden or decisive actions. This phrase suggests a slow, almost passive transition, not an immediate choice or action. For example, don't say "He drifted into doing a backflip" if he performed it spontaneously.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drift into doing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a gradual or unintentional transition into an action. It portrays a lack of deliberate intent, as seen in the Ludwig examples of scientists "drifting into doing" a PhD and hunters "drifting into doing" service sector jobs.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "drift into doing" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes a gradual and somewhat unplanned transition into an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. The key to using it effectively is to ensure the context aligns with the sense of gradual, unintentional involvement. Consider alternatives like "fall into doing" or "gradually start doing" if a different nuance is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall into doing

Suggests a passive acceptance of doing something.

fell into doing

Past tense of 'fall into doing', indicating a completed passive transition.

gradually start doing

Focuses on the gradual nature of starting an activity.

slowly begin to do

Highlights the slow pace at which an action commences.

unintentionally begin doing

Emphasizes the lack of intention in starting the action.

slide into doing

Emphasizes a subtle and effortless transition into the activity.

find oneself doing

Highlights the surprise of engaging in an activity.

get around to doing

Implies a delay before starting the action.

end up doing

Indicates an unexpected outcome involving the action.

gravitate towards doing

Highlights a natural tendency or attraction toward the action.

FAQs

How can I use "drift into doing" in a sentence?

Use "drift into doing" to describe a gradual and often unintentional transition into an activity. For instance, "He initially volunteered to help, but he "drifted into doing" the entire project."

What does "drift into doing" mean?

The phrase "drift into doing" suggests a slow and unplanned transition into an activity, often without a clear initial intention. It implies a gradual involvement over time.

What are some alternatives to "drift into doing"?

You can use alternatives like "fall into doing", "gradually start doing", or "slowly begin to do", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "drift into doing"?

Yes, "drift into doing" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a gradual transition into an activity.