look doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look doing" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I saw him look doing something strange in the corner." (This example is awkward and unclear.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

And don't care how they look doing it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'm not doing them thinking about how I look doing them.

The New Yorker

It is not whether you lose but how bad you look doing so.

The New York Times - Sports

Just think about how you will look doing it.

WikiHow

People can whisper about how dumb you look doing the machine incorrectly.

WikiHow

What makes contortionists so fun to watch is how easy they make it look doing near-impossible things with their body.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And look, don't touch.

The New York Times - Travel

No — don't look, don't look.

The New Yorker

"Don't look, don't look!

The New Yorker

'You look done in,' says the driver.

Independent

"Look, don't worry," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions, use grammatically correct alternatives like "appear to be doing" or "seem to be doing" to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Do not use the phrase "look doing" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "look like they are doing" or "seem to be doing" to avoid grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look doing" attempts to describe an action based on appearance. It's often used to convey a visual impression, but its grammatical structure is non-standard. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as not correct in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "look doing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in English. While it appears in some sources, including news and media, it's advisable to use more standard and grammatically correct alternatives such as "appear to be doing" or "seem to be doing" for clarity and accuracy. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as not correct. When aiming to describe the visual impression of an action, choosing precise and standard phrases is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appear to be doing

Emphasizes the appearance or impression of performing an action.

seem to be doing

Highlights the impression or sense of someone engaging in an action.

look as if they're doing

Specifies the visual impression that someone is performing an action.

look like they are doing

Indicates a resemblance to someone performing an action.

be seen doing

Focuses on the act of being observed while performing an action.

be observed doing

Highlights the act of being watched while performing an action.

give the impression of doing

Emphasizes the conveyed sense or feeling of performing an action.

create the image of doing

Focuses on the projected visual representation of performing an action.

present oneself as doing

Highlights the way someone portrays themselves as performing an action.

come across as doing

Emphasizes the perceived manner in which someone performs an action.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "look doing" that are grammatically correct?

You can use alternatives like "appear to be doing", "seem to be doing", or "look like they are doing" depending on the context.

Is "look doing" grammatically correct in English?

No, "look doing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use more precise and standard phrases like "appear to be doing" or "seem to be doing".

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "look doing", and why is it often avoided?

While occasionally found in informal contexts, "look doing" is avoided in formal writing because it doesn't adhere to standard grammatical structures. Better alternatives include "appear to be doing" or "seem to be doing" for clarity.

What is the difference between "look doing" and "look like they are doing"?

"Look doing" is grammatically incorrect, whereas "look like they are doing" is a correct and standard way to express that someone gives the visual impression of performing an action. It's more precise and avoids grammatical errors.