from doing exactly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from doing exactly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific action or behavior that is being prevented or limited. Example: "The new policy is aimed at preventing employees from doing exactly what they did last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

And yet that didn't stop one intrepid selfie devotee from doing exactly that earlier this month.

The Guardian - Arts

Rape-shield laws adopted from the nineteen-seventies through the nineteen-nineties now preclude defense lawyers from doing exactly that.

The New Yorker

But the sad truth is that the transition from doing exactly what you want to doing others' bidding often obliterates any positive effects.

The New York Times - Travel

"Basically, the law is there to prevent the cops from doing exactly what they did," Mr. Belcher said, "from stopping 20 to 30 people without any specific facts leading them to say that one person did it".

The New York Times

Two humbling years of watching as other Nigerian writers, many of whom lived abroad, signed bigger book deals, expanded their audience, and made good money from doing exactly what they wanted.

The Guardian - Books

They made the case that the proposal to make infringing Web sites "disappear" from the Internet by forbidding search engines from finding them or redirecting their Web addresses to other Internet domains was easy to get around and could potentially undermine efforts to stop hackers from doing exactly the same thing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Crueler yet, Maye was separated from his kids for doing exactly what a father is supposed to do: He protected his daughter from harm.

Huffington Post

Students and prospectives can get real advice from people doing exactly what they aspire to.

Huffington Post

Look how much joy Leicester and Watford get from crosses by doing exactly this.

Independent

"You can't make the mistake of thinking the only place you'll learn is from colleagues who are doing exactly what you're doing".

The New York Times

"Far from 'snapping', they're doing exactly the opposite," Lavergne said last Wednesday, standing at the spot where Wilson and Eckman were hit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "from doing exactly" to clearly convey that an action is being prevented from being replicated in a precise manner. It's useful when emphasizing the need to avoid repeating a specific behavior or action.

Common error

Avoid using "from doing exactly" when the intention is merely to discourage similar actions, rather than prevent a specific, identical replication. Use a less restrictive phrase if the context only calls for discouraging a general type of activity, not the precise act.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from doing exactly" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating a prevention or restriction of a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "from doing exactly" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the prevention of replicating a specific action with precision. Ludwig AI analysis shows it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, wiki and general writing contexts. The phrase is best used when conveying a clear restriction against repeating a particular behavior, and it's important to avoid it when a less specific restriction is intended. Alternative phrases such as "from replicating precisely" or "from performing precisely" can be used to add nuance. The phrase's frequency is common, and its use is supported by authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from replicating precisely

Replaces 'doing' with 'replicating' and 'exactly' with 'precisely', emphasizing duplication with accuracy.

from mirroring exactly

Substitutes 'doing' with 'mirroring', focusing on the action being a direct reflection of something else.

from performing precisely

Replaces 'doing' with 'performing' and 'exactly' with 'precisely', giving a sense of execution with accuracy.

from executing exactly

Similar to 'performing precisely', but with a stronger emphasis on carrying out a specific action.

from imitating precisely

Replaces 'doing' with 'imitating' and 'exactly' with 'precisely', stressing the act of copying with accuracy.

from emulating exactly

Similar to 'imitating', but implies a desire to match or surpass the original.

from acting identically

Replaces 'doing exactly' with 'acting identically', focusing on identical behavior.

from behaving precisely as

Replaces 'doing exactly' with 'behaving precisely as', emphasizing manner of acting.

from proceeding identically

Replaces 'doing exactly' with 'proceeding identically', meaning continuing in exact the same manner.

from responding in kind

Alters the phrase to indicate a reciprocal action, meaning to respond similarly to a previous action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "from doing exactly" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "preventing the precise replication of", "prohibiting the identical execution of", or "deterring the exact duplication of". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What does "from doing exactly" imply about the action being discussed?

It implies that there is a specific action or behavior that is to be avoided or prevented, and it emphasizes the precision or exactness of the action. It's not just about avoiding something similar, but avoiding that specific thing.

Is there a difference between "from doing exactly that" and "from doing something similar"?

Yes, "from doing exactly that" refers to preventing the repetition of a specific action, while "from doing something similar" refers to preventing actions that share characteristics but aren't necessarily identical. The former is much more specific and restrictive.

When is it appropriate to use "from doing exactly" in legal or formal writing?

It's appropriate when you need to precisely define the scope of a prohibition or restriction. For example, a legal document might state that a party is prohibited "from doing exactly" what they did previously to ensure there's no ambiguity about what's not allowed.