lead to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"lead to doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the result of an action that causes something else to happen. For example: "His words lead to doing some careful research to ensure the accuracy of his statement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

I've known females who've abstained for months, years, but abstention can lead to doing really freaky things.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Pepsi case shows that doing good does not always lead to doing well financially, a conclusion supported by decades of academic research.

The New Yorker

If you don't, the path of least resistance will lead to doing the first thing that comes to mind — like answering email.

Harvard Business Review

In short, Gladwell is tackling the million-dollar question: "when does doing good lead to doing bad, and when does doing good lead to doing more good?" It all feels very Gladwell – but his intimate presenting style has the undeniable authority you want in someone who is teaching you to rethink how you see the world.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

As with the factory, so with the office: in an assembly line, the smaller the piece of work assigned to any single individual, the less skill it requires and the less likely the possibility that doing it well will lead to doing something more interesting, and better paid.

The New Yorker

On the other hand, success like this with a Friday New York Times crossword might lead one to believe that one is better at this sort of thing than one had originally thought, and that could only lead to doing more end-of-week puzzles.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Now they need a three-point lead to do so.

The Economist

This company Oculus has a clear lead to do this".

TechCrunch

"I started with horses, which led to doing stunts.

Vice

But they have also admitted that they have few leads to do the job.

The New York Times

Two of the designed precursors did lead to cyanobactin products.

ACS Synthetic Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lead to doing" when you want to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship, emphasizing the subsequent action that results from a prior event or decision. Ensure the subject clearly connects to the action being led to.

Common error

Avoid using "lead to doing" with inanimate subjects when a more direct verb is appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "The broken wire led to doing a short circuit", it's clearer to say "The broken wire caused a short circuit".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead to doing" functions as a causal connector, indicating that one action or event causes or results in another. It links a cause with its subsequent action, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis. The examples show it in various contexts, from abstract consequences to concrete actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lead to doing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for establishing cause-and-effect relationships. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, though predominantly found in news, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure the subject logically connects to the resulting action. Consider alternative phrases like "result in doing" or "cause someone to do" for stylistic variation, and avoid using inanimate subjects inappropriately. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "lead to doing" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

result in doing

Replaces "lead to" with "result in", emphasizing the outcome as a direct consequence.

cause someone to do

Highlights the causative action and the person or entity affected.

give rise to doing

Implies that the action creates a situation where something else becomes possible or necessary.

bring about doing

Emphasizes the act of causing something to happen.

pave the way for doing

Suggests that the action prepares a path or makes it easier for something else to occur.

set the stage for doing

Indicates that something creates conditions making future actions more likely.

contribute to doing

Shows that the action is one of several factors causing something.

be conducive to doing

Suggests that the action creates favorable conditions for something else to happen.

incline towards doing

Indicates that the action makes someone more likely to do something.

open the door for doing

Implies that the action creates an opportunity for something to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "lead to doing" in a sentence?

Use "lead to doing" to show that one action or event causes another action. For example, "Poor planning can "lead to doing" costly mistakes during the project."

What are some alternatives to "lead to doing"?

Depending on the context, consider alternatives like "result in doing", "cause someone to do", or "give rise to doing" for variety and impact.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lead to doing"?

Yes, "lead to doing" is grammatically correct. The phrase uses "to" as a preposition, which is correctly followed by a gerund (doing).

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

"Lead to doing" implies a cause-and-effect relationship where an action causes another action. "Lead to do" is grammatically incorrect; "to" functions as a preposition and needs to be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.