in place of doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in place of doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a substitution or alternative action instead of the action mentioned. Example: "She decided to go for a walk in place of doing her usual workout at the gym."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Adrian is in a place of doing".

The New York Times

That is, there are no plans to use all of the advances in artificial intelligence to produce Blinks in place of humans doing the condensing, a la Summly or others that have tried this approach.

TechCrunch

The first was fixing the barrier to the ground to keep it in place to do its job of absorbing the extreme forces of an F1 crash.

BBC

That is not to say that Kurt Thomas and Othella Harrington, who started in place of Camby, did not play well.

The New York Times - Sports

That suggests poor finishing, and the assistant coach Rui Faria, sent to speak in place of Mourinho, did not disagree.

The Guardian - Sport

Meanwhile, Eduardo Nunez, who had hit.339 in place of Jeter, did not start in Sunday's Subway Series finale because of tightness in his right hamstring.

The New York Times - Sports

* In place of the phrase "Don't you try to back us into a corner!" please substitute "Where do we sign?" Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist.

Huffington Post

Strickland Not in Flow Erick Strickland started the second half in place of Charlie Ward, who did not play in the third quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Clarence Goodson started instead of Onyewu, who replaced him in the 61st minute, and Robbie Findley and Edson Buddle started up front in place of Altidore, who did not play.

The New York Times - Sports

The toothless advisory body that the emir created in place of parliament has done nothing to reign in the security forces.

The Economist

12.48am BST Giants 1 - Reds 1, Bottom 6th Jeremy Affeldt starts out the sixth for the Giants in place of Ryan Vogelsong, who did his job despite some control issues.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in place of doing" when you want to clearly indicate that one action is being substituted for another. It adds a slightly more formal tone than "instead of doing".

Common error

Avoid using "in place of doing" when you simply want to describe doing something, without the implication of substitution. For instance, don't say "He was running in place of doing exercise"; instead, say "He was running, which is a form of exercise".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in place of doing" functions as a prepositional phrase followed by a gerund. As Ludwig AI explains, this construction denotes the substitution of one action for another. It helps to provide alternatives of what is performed by whom.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in place of doing" serves to indicate the substitution of one action for another, offering a more formal alternative to phrases like "instead of doing". Ludwig AI analysis confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and its presence across varied sources, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki entries. While it maintains a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional or academic settings, remember that it's more appropriate when substitution is clearly implied. By following these tips, you can confidently integrate "in place of doing" into your writing, enhancing clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Instead of doing

Direct synonym, emphasizing the substitution of one action with another.

Rather than doing

Similar to "instead of doing", but can sometimes imply a preference.

As a substitute for doing

More formal and emphasizes the act of replacing one action with another.

As a replacement for doing

Highlights the action that is being replaced.

In lieu of doing

A more formal and somewhat archaic substitute.

As an alternative to doing

Highlights that the action is another option.

To avoid doing

Focuses on preventing an action by performing another.

In preference to doing

Indicates a clear choice of one action over another.

To supplant doing

A more formal term for replacing, often implying a forceful substitution.

By doing something else

General way to express the replacement of doing an activity, can be less formal depending on context.

FAQs

How can I use "in place of doing" in a sentence?

You can use "in place of doing" to show that one action is being substituted for another. For example: "She chose to read a book "in place of doing" chores."

What can I say instead of "in place of doing"?

You can use alternatives like "instead of doing", "rather than doing", or "as a substitute for doing" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "in place of doing" and "instead of doing"?

While both phrases can be used interchangeably, "in place of doing" is often perceived as slightly more formal than "instead of doing". The best choice depends on the overall tone of your writing.

When is it inappropriate to use "in place of doing"?

It's inappropriate to use "in place of doing" when there's no substitution implied. If you simply mean to describe an action, use a simpler construction. For example, instead of saying "He enjoys running "in place of doing" anything else", say "He enjoys running more than anything else".