got to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "got to doing" is not standard in written English and may be considered informal or colloquial.
It can be used to express the idea of starting or beginning to do something, often in a casual context. Example: "After a long day, I finally got to doing my homework."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And that brings me to the other upside of the writerly approach: the closer we got to doing everything we ever dreamed of doing to our home, the more we realized that we couldn't have done it any other way.

The New York Times - Magazine

"By the time we got to doing electric versions of traditional music, or writing new songs in a Scots-Irish-English-rooted way, then I was pretty much set in what I wanted to do," Thompson says.

The Guardian - Music

So far the closest I have got to doing any physics here is talking about ways to limit the shock a colleague gets from the carpet-humidity-doorknob setup in his office here.

The Guardian

When Snoop got to doing what he was doing, that shit helped us all out because it made a way for us to get out of the things that would have got us caught up.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

You got to do it!' ".

The New York Times

"You've got to do".

The New York Times

We got to do what we got to do.

The New York Times - Sports

"And I got to do what I got to do".

The New York Times

"Doing what I got to do".

The New Yorker

Do what you got to do.

The New York Times

Do what you've got to do".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "got to doing" in informal contexts, like casual conversations or personal writing. In formal or academic writing, consider alternatives like "started doing" or "began doing" for greater clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using "got to doing" in formal reports or academic papers. Replace it with more formal alternatives like "commenced" or "initiated" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got to doing" functions as a gerund phrase, indicating the commencement or progression of an action. As Ludwig AI explained, it's often considered informal, and functions to describe initiation of a process.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "got to doing" is an informal way to describe the beginning of an action or activity. While it is understandable and used in casual contexts like conversations and less formal writing, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives such as "started doing" or "began doing" in academic and professional settings. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is not considered standard written English. The phrase mainly appears in News & Media sources, and is not frequent. Therefore, writers should be mindful of their audience and the context in which they are using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started doing

Emphasizes the initiation of an action or activity. This alternative is a more standard and grammatically explicit way to express the beginning of an action.

began doing

Similar to 'started doing', but may imply a more gradual or formal commencement of the action.

commenced doing

A more formal alternative that stresses the official or ceremonious beginning of an action.

proceeded to do

Highlights the sequential nature of the action, indicating a step-by-step approach or progression.

went on to do

Indicates a transition to a subsequent action, suggesting a series of actions rather than a single event.

moved on to doing

Suggests a shift from one activity or focus to another, highlighting the change in direction.

turned to doing

Implies a change in focus or activity, often indicating a recourse or alternative action.

ended up doing

Highlights the eventual outcome or result of a series of actions or decisions, often implying an unexpected conclusion.

found myself doing

Emphasizes the unplanned or unintentional nature of the action, suggesting a lack of conscious decision.

launched into doing

Implies a sudden and enthusiastic commencement of an action, often without preparation or planning.

FAQs

What does "got to doing" mean?

The phrase "got to doing" generally means starting or beginning to do something. It's a more informal way of saying "started doing" or "began doing."

What can I say instead of "got to doing"?

You can use alternatives like "started doing", "began doing", or "commenced doing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "got to doing" in formal writing?

While "got to doing" is understandable, it's generally considered informal. For formal writing, it's better to use more standard phrases like "started doing" or "began doing."

How do I use "got to doing" in a sentence?

You can use it similarly to "started doing". For example, "After a long day, I finally got to doing my homework" is similar to "After a long day, I finally started doing my homework."