far from doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"far from doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone or something is not doing the expected action or behaving in the expected way. For example: "The government has been far from doing what it promised to do to tackle the economic crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Sparks, so far from doing it, only made things worse.

The New Yorker

"This is very far from doing something like that".

The New York Times - Science

Far from doing that, the government is making life more difficult by the day.

The Guardian - Opinion

And the Senate bill isn't all that far from doing it right.

The New York Times - Health

Far from doing anything to stop the carnage, they've encouraged it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Far from doing that this time, both Labour and the Tories seem keen to ingratiate themselves with minority voters.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

The deal is far from done, however.

The New York Times

But the work is far from done.

The New York Times

And the trustee is far from done.

The New York Times

Any deal is far from done.

The New York Times

But the Yankees were far from done.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far from doing" to introduce a contrast or unexpected outcome. This highlights a deviation from what might be anticipated, adding emphasis to the actual situation. For instance, "Far from simplifying the process, the new software made it more complicated."

Common error

Avoid using "far from doing" simply as a synonym for "not doing". The phrase implies a contrast or unexpected outcome, not just the absence of an action. Ensure the context clearly indicates a deviation from an anticipated or expected scenario.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far from doing" functions as an introductory phrase that sets up a contrast or contradiction. It indicates that the subsequent action is the opposite of what might be expected or intended. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science & Research

8%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far from doing" serves to introduce a contrast or unexpected outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is considered correct and suitable for written English. Predominantly found in news and media, academic, and encyclopedia sources, it maintains a neutral register. To effectively use the phrase, ensure a clear contrast between what is expected and the actual situation. Be mindful that it is not a direct substitute for "not doing" but rather emphasizes a deviation from what might be anticipated. When seeking alternatives, options like "instead of doing" or "rather than doing" can provide similar emphasis. The phrase is widely used and adds emphasis to the deviation from the anticipated action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite the opposite of doing

Directly negates an expected action, stressing that the actual action is completely different.

instead of doing

Replaces "far from doing" by directly contrasting the actual action with an expected one.

on the contrary doing

Introduces a contrasting action or state that is the opposite of what might be expected.

rather than doing

Emphasizes a preference or choice against performing a particular action, similar to expressing the opposite of doing something.

as opposed to doing

Highlights a direct contrast between two actions, emphasizing the selection of one over the other.

not doing at all

Highlights the complete absence of an action, providing a stronger emphasis on the lack of performance.

in no way doing

Highlights that something is absolutely not happening, with an intention to emphasize a negative.

not even close to doing

Indicates a significant discrepancy between the expected action and the actual situation, emphasizing the unlikelihood of the action.

by no means doing

Denies any possibility of performing an action, reinforcing the opposite intention.

rather not doing

Indicates a preference against performing a particular action, which creates a nuance of opposite state.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "far from doing" in a sentence?

Use "far from doing" to introduce a situation that is the opposite of what might be expected. For example, "Far from solving the problem, the new policy created even more issues."

What are some alternatives to "far from doing"?

You can use alternatives like "instead of doing", "rather than doing", or "quite the opposite of doing" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "far from doing"?

Yes, "far from doing" is grammatically correct and widely used in English to express a contrast or an unexpected outcome.

What is the difference between "far from doing" and simply "not doing"?

"Far from doing" implies a contrast or unexpected result, whereas "not doing" simply indicates the absence of an action. For instance, saying "He is not doing his homework" just states that he isn't working on it, while "Far from doing his homework, he is playing video games" highlights an unexpected behavior.