imply doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"imply doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea of indicating or suggesting an action without explicitly stating it. For example: She implied doing something to help, but didn't directly offer assistance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Promoting women should imply doing things better than men.

The Guardian - Opinion

But scientific uncertainty doesn't necessarily imply doing nothing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Does it say or imply: "Do what Steve Jobs did" or "Do what Apple did"?

Forbes

The other vignettes described cases that the guidelines imply do not constitute high risk cancer patients.

BMC Family Practice

The reality is that delighting customers often implies doing less.

Forbes

He had better things to be doing with his time, and so, he implied, did his viewers.

The Guardian - Books

The latter, he implied, do not necessarily raise the need for far-reaching new regulations to protect taxpayers.

The New York Times

Firms in those areas, it implies, do not believe they can provide a service on the funding made available.

The Guardian

Those proposals, he implied, don't get funded.

Science Magazine

American Church Trust, as the name implies, does a big business in church bonds.

Forbes

Toughness and decisiveness, it is implied, do not come naturally to women.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "imply doing", ensure the context makes it clear what action is being suggested. Overly subtle implications can lead to confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "imply doing" when a direct statement of intent is more appropriate. Overusing implication can make your writing seem evasive or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "imply doing" functions as a verb phrase where "imply" is the main verb and "doing" functions as a gerund, acting as the direct object. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase suggests an indirect indication of an action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "imply doing" is a grammatically sound construction used to suggest an action indirectly. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, though its usage is relatively rare. The phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, media, and scientific writing, where subtlety and nuance are valued. When employing "imply doing", ensure the implied action is clear to your audience to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "suggest carrying out" or "hint at performing" for enhanced clarity or different shades of meaning. While grammatically correct, prioritize direct language when clarity is paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggest carrying out

Replaces "imply" with "suggest" and uses "carrying out" to specify the action being suggested.

point toward doing

Uses "point toward" to indicate a direction or suggestion of action.

hint at performing

Uses "hint at" to indicate a less direct suggestion and "performing" to denote the action.

signal the intention of performing

Replaces imply with signal, making explicit the communication of intent of performing something.

insinuate undertaking

Employs "insinuate" for a more subtle implication and "undertaking" as a formal equivalent of doing.

allude to conducting

Uses "allude to" for a less direct suggestion and "conducting" as a more formal version of doing.

intimate action

Replaces doing with the noun 'action' and uses 'intimate' to suggest an indirect communication.

give the impression of action

Focuses on the impression conveyed rather than the direct action itself.

leave the impression of executing

Focuses on the impression conveyed, using "executing" to represent the action more formally.

lead one to believe there will be

Highlights the belief formed as a result of the implication, with a broader phrasing.

FAQs

How can I use "imply doing" in a sentence?

You can use "imply doing" to suggest an action without stating it explicitly. For example, "His silence implied doing nothing to help."

What are some alternatives to "imply doing"?

Alternatives include "suggest carrying out", "hint at performing", or "insinuate undertaking", depending on the level of subtlety you want to convey.

Is it better to directly state an action or "imply doing" it?

It depends on the context. Sometimes directly stating an action is clearer, while other times implying it can add nuance or subtlety. Consider your audience and the purpose of your communication.

When is it appropriate to use "imply doing" instead of more direct language?

Use "imply doing" when you want to suggest an action indirectly, perhaps to avoid being too blunt or to allow the audience to draw their own conclusions. However, ensure the implication is clear enough to be understood.