in the direction of doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the direction of doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a course of action that is aimed at achieving a specific result. For example, "Our team is taking steps in the direction of doing more to reduce our company's carbon footprint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"That's what got me moving more intensely in the direction of doing music".

The Guardian - Music

People who were driven outside of the social order, because of their sexual identity, were driven in the direction of doing amazing, creative things".

The Guardian - Music

With this new statement of principles, it appears the White House may be moving in the direction of doing somewhat more for the middle class — though the details are unclear.

The Washington Post

Cooper is one of the most famous urban designers in the world — he was a co-designer of Battery Park City, and he probably did as much as anyone to shift taste in the direction of doing things like restoring Greenwich Street.

The New Yorker

Back in 2004, Greg Mankiw declared, in the Economic Report of the President, that But now, after the Fed has finally moved a bit in the direction of doing something about the Lesser Depression, Mitt Romney – supposedly advised by Mankiw among others – is outraged: [T]he American economy doesn't need more artificial and ineffective measures.

The New York Times

Aside from Bell, though, there isn't a lot that seems to point in the direction of doing better.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

She opens Mr Bachman's wrapped book to find a collection of Dylan Thomas poems and a note pointing her in the direction of "Do not go gentle into that good night".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"But it is a fantastic start in the right direction of doing pretty special things in big tournaments.

BBC

The proportion of cells polarised in the direction of migration did not differ significantly between genotypes (Fig. 4D,E), nor did the distance migrated by leading edge NC cells from the central explant (Fig. 4F).

Development (Cambridge)

Tel Aviv is becoming more and more Mediterranean, like the South of France, whereas Jerusalem is moving in the direction of, I don't know where, maybe like Qum, in Iran".

The New Yorker

In fact, the university's provost, Robert A. Brown, said, when course materials are already posted, "it pushes the faculty in the direction of 'How do I best use the contact hours so that people learn?' which is clearly critical".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the direction of doing" when you want to express a movement or progression towards initiating an action or task, rather than the action itself. For example, "The company is moving in the direction of doing more sustainable business practices."

Common error

Avoid using "in the direction of doing" when describing actions that have already been completed. This phrase indicates movement or intent, not a finished state. Instead of saying "They moved in the direction of doing the project", say "They completed the project" or "They moved toward completing the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the direction of doing" functions as a prepositional phrase followed by a gerund. It modifies a verb or noun, indicating movement or progression towards an action. This aligns with Ludwig's examples showcasing various contexts where actions are oriented or aimed at a particular outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in the direction of doing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating movement or progress toward a specific action. While not exceedingly common, as suggested by Ludwig, it appears across diverse sources, including news, science, and academic writings. It serves to express intent and aspiration, rather than a completed action. When using this phrase, ensure you are conveying a sense of ongoing movement or planned action, avoiding its use for describing finished tasks. Be mindful of the context, and consider synonyms like "moving towards doing" or "aiming to do" for subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moving towards doing

Focuses on the act of moving, implying progress towards a specific action.

progressing towards doing

Emphasizes continuous progress, suggesting steady advancement.

aiming to do

Highlights the intention or goal of the action.

oriented toward doing

Indicates a specific orientation or focus on performing the action.

inclined to do

Suggests a tendency or preference towards doing something.

advancing to do

Implies a forward movement or promotion to a new stage of action.

tending towards doing

Highlights a natural inclination or predisposition.

developing towards doing

Focuses on gradual evolvement toward a specific action.

shifting toward doing

Highlights a change of direction or focus toward the action.

setting out to do

Emphasizes the beginning of an action or task.

FAQs

How can I use "in the direction of doing" in a sentence?

Use "in the direction of doing" to describe progress or movement towards an action, not the action itself. For example, "The research is moving "in the direction of doing" more to understand the causes of this disease".

What's a good alternative to "in the direction of doing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "moving towards doing", "aiming to do", or "progressing towards doing".

Is it better to say "in the direction of doing" or "towards doing"?

"In the direction of doing" is more descriptive and implies a broader, less direct approach. "Towards doing" is more concise and indicates a more direct path. The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

When should I avoid using "in the direction of doing"?

Avoid using "in the direction of doing" when you want to describe a completed action or a direct and immediate action. It's more suitable for expressing intent, progress, or movement towards an action.