keen on doing

USAGE SUMMARY

'keen on doing' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express enthusiasm and interest in doing something. For example, "Laura was always keen on doing volunteer work and helping out in her community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"I was always keen on doing serious stuff in a silly way and silly stuff in a serious way.

The Guardian

He was, he says, keen on doing television because he enjoyed the collaborative process.

The Guardian

I was diving, cleaning ships, help keeping ships afloat, and it was something I wasn't too keen on doing.

The Guardian

Some Brexiters hope that British people, assuming there are enough of them, will suddenly start to do the low-skilled jobs that, for some reason, they weren't keen on doing previously.

The Guardian

We had done The Good Person of Sichuan at the National together 10 years before, and I wasn't keen on doing Brecht again: I'm a very received person when it comes to brown-hessian polemics.

The Guardian

Her beauty hasn't gone unnoticed - and magazines are keen to feature her, but she says she isn't keen on doing glossy photo shoots.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Consequently, MURs were not seen to foster inter-professional collaboration: rather, pharmacists reported the opposite view: Kate: I don't think they're [GP's] keen on us doing it, to be honest, to be truthful.

BMC Family Practice

But the powers that be at Radio 2 aren't keen on him doing it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And even if every House Republican tells voters they want to repeal Obamacare, there are plenty of moderate members in the conference who aren't too keen on actually doing it.

Huffington Post

If your friends like something you're not too keen on, it doesn't matter;you are allowed to have dissimilar interests.

WikiHow

Trouble is, I didn't want to go further than one or two dates with the majority of them and the two or three I was keen on didn't feel the same.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keen on doing" to convey genuine enthusiasm and interest in an activity. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, adding a touch of warmth to your expression.

Common error

While "keen on doing" is versatile, avoid overusing it in formal documents like research papers or legal briefs. Opt for more formal alternatives like "inclined to do" or "disposed to do" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keen on doing" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition and a gerund. It expresses a state of enthusiasm or strong interest in performing a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keen on doing" is a versatile phrase that conveys enthusiasm and interest in performing an action. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and commonly used in various contexts. While highly versatile, its use should be monitored in professional writing. The phrase is mostly used in news and media. To enhance writing, consider using related phrases like "eager to do" or "enthusiastic about doing" depending on the level of formality required. Although other scenarios can occur, "keen on doing" is a stable choice for an intermediate level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to do

Indicates a strong desire or enthusiasm, similar to "keen on doing" but more straightforward.

enthusiastic about doing

Highlights the positive emotion associated with the activity, emphasizing excitement.

interested in doing

A more general expression of interest, less intense than "keen on doing".

inclined to do

Suggests a predisposition or willingness to act, less forceful than "keen on doing".

disposed to do

Similar to 'inclined,' implying a natural tendency or readiness.

desirous of doing

A more formal way of expressing a wish or longing to perform an action.

willing to do

Indicates consent or readiness to perform the action.

game for doing

An informal expression suggesting readiness and enthusiasm, often for something adventurous.

up for doing

Similar to "game for doing", indicating willingness to participate.

take pleasure in doing

Emphasizes the enjoyment derived from the action.

FAQs

How can I use "keen on doing" in a sentence?

"Keen on doing" is used to express enthusiasm or interest in performing an action. For example, "She was "keen on doing" volunteer work.".

What's a more formal alternative to "keen on doing"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "inclined to do" or "disposed to do" as they convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is "keen on doing something" grammatically correct?

Yes, "keen on doing something" is grammatically correct. "Keen" is an adjective, "on" is a preposition, and "doing" is a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).

What is the difference between "interested in doing" and "keen on doing"?

"Interested in doing" is a general expression of interest, while "keen on doing" implies a stronger enthusiasm and eagerness. Consider using "interested in doing" when you want to express mild curiosity, and ""keen on doing"" when you're more enthusiastic.