help doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'help doing' is not correct English; you should say 'help to do' instead. For example, "I'd appreciate your help to do the dishes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The pigeon cannot help doing so.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We can't help doing it.

The Guardian - Arts

She advises people to get help doing this.

Independent

Looking at animals is something we can't help doing.

The Guardian - Arts

Which you can't help doing, in this smart and lively show.

The Washington Post

I did want to ask for your help doing these evaluations.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

As I look out onto the dance floor, I can't help doing the math.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

But it doesn't help, does it?

The New Yorker

"This is meant to help do that".

The New York Times

All that help does not come cheap.

The New York Times - Sports

Only GMO cotton can help do that.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While commonly used, "help doing" is often considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for "help to do" for better clarity and adherence to standard English.

Common error

A common mistake is using a gerund ("doing") after "help" instead of the infinitive ("to do"). Remember that after "help", the bare infinitive (to) is generally preferred in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "help doing" functions as part of a verb phrase, where "help" acts as an auxiliary verb modifying the main verb expressed as a gerund. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically questionable, suggesting "help to do" as a more appropriate alternative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

HuffPost

10%

Less common in

Science

9%

Academia

6%

Forbes

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "help doing" is frequently encountered in various contexts, including news and media, it's often considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the more standard and accepted form is "help to do". It's crucial to prioritize clarity and precision in writing, particularly in formal settings. Therefore, opting for "help to do" ensures grammatical correctness and strengthens the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

help to do

Corrects the grammatical structure by using the infinitive form "to do" instead of the gerund "doing".

assist in doing

Replaces "help" with the more formal "assist" and maintains the "doing" structure.

aid in doing

Similar to "assist in doing", using "aid" to convey assistance.

support in doing

A more concise way of saying "provide support in doing".

offer support for doing

Focuses on the supportive aspect of helping.

provide assistance with doing

More verbose, emphasizing the provision of assistance.

lend a hand in doing

An idiomatic expression for helping, slightly less formal.

give guidance on doing

Highlights the guidance aspect of help.

collaborate on doing

Emphasizes a collaborative effort in performing the action.

facilitate the doing of

A very formal and somewhat awkward alternative.

FAQs

Is "help doing" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, many consider "help doing" grammatically incorrect. The preferred form is "help to do".

What's a more formal alternative to "help doing"?

More formal alternatives include "assist in doing" or "aid in doing".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "help doing" to be more grammatically sound?

Replace "help doing" with "help to do". For example, instead of "I need help doing this", say "I need help to do this".

What's the difference between "help doing" and "help to do"?

The key difference is grammatical correctness. "Help to do" is the generally accepted standard, while "help doing" is often considered informal or incorrect, although commonly used. If you are looking for a proper way to say it, always use "help to do".