not being done

USAGE SUMMARY

"not being done" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is often used to express that a certain action is not taking place. For example, "We are still waiting for the report to be completed, despite not being done quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Ask what's not being done.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The basic infrastructures are not being done.

The New York Times

"But they're not being done".

The New York Times

It is not being done.

The New York Times

But this was not being done.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately, this is not being done.

The Guardian - Tech

"That's not being done at the current time".

The New York Times

"Why is it not being done?" he said.

The New York Times

It's no surprise that this is not being done instantaneously.

The New York Times

This, the HMIC reported, was still not being done.

The Guardian

They are not being done in some martyr-like way.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not being done" to clearly indicate that an action or task is currently inactive or incomplete. For example, "The necessary research is "not being done" due to budget constraints."

Common error

Avoid using "not being done" when you actually mean "not doing". "Not being done" implies something should be done by someone else, while "not doing" suggests someone isn't taking action themselves. For example, say "We are "not being done" favors" instead of "We are not doing our job"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not being done" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action is not currently in progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used phrase. It emphasizes the lack of action rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

23%

Opinion

9%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not being done" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate a lack of ongoing action or completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in written English. It's prevalent in news, academic, and opinion contexts, signaling deficiencies or unmet expectations. While the phrase has a neutral register, users should be mindful of the implied responsibility and choose synonyms for specific tones or formality levels. Common alternatives include "not carried out" and "not implemented". Be aware of the distinction between "not being done" (passive) and "not doing" (active) to avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not completed

Focuses on the lack of finishing or finalization.

not carried out

Focuses on the absence of execution or performance.

not finalized

Similar to "not completed", emphasizing the absence of a final stage.

not implemented

Highlights the lack of practical application.

not executed

Similar to "not carried out", stressing the absence of formal completion.

not in progress

Emphasizes the lack of ongoing activity.

not performed

Emphasizes the lack of action or activity taking place.

not underway

Similar to "not in progress", highlighting the absence of initiation.

not fulfilled

Highlights the absence of satisfying a requirement or obligation.

not achieved

Highlights the failure to accomplish a goal.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not being done" in a more formal way?

Consider using phrases such as "not carried out", "not implemented", or "not executed" depending on the context.

What does "not being done" imply about responsibility?

"Not being done" often implies that someone else is expected to perform the action, but it's currently inactive. It highlights a lack of completion or execution, with an implicit assignment of responsibility to another party.

Is it better to use "not being done" or "not done"?

The choice depends on context. "Not being done" emphasizes an ongoing lack of action (passive), while "not done" simply indicates incompleteness or a lack of accomplishment.

What are some common situations where "not being done" is used?

You'll often see "not being done" used to describe tasks, projects, or processes that are expected to be underway but are currently stalled or have "not started". It's also used to point out unfulfilled responsibilities or neglected duties.