nothing but does

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nothing but does" 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: "Nothing but does not make sense in this context."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And Papa? He, too, is modern; he thinks nothing but does everything to please his daughter and his wife.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Probably nothing, but do you really want to take that chance?

The New Yorker

Kidd did nothing, but did it brilliantly, and it meant everything.

The New York Times - Sports

Do nothing - but don't just walk away.

The Guardian

Everyone complains, but does nothing.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Some artists do nothing but make art.

Independent

But nothing does.

The New York Times

No, but nothing does.

The New York Times - Health

But nothing does anymore.

Vice

"[But] doing nothing doesn't work".

The Guardian

But nothing really does happen.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more grammatically sound alternatives like "only does" or "merely does" to convey your intended meaning clearly.

Common error

Ensure your sentences are complete and grammatically correct. The phrase "nothing but does" often leads to incomplete or unclear statements. Reframe the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing but does" is typically intended to emphasize a singular action or behavior, but it is grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as incorrect. A correct sentence structure should be used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "nothing but does" might appear in various contexts, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The intended meaning is usually to emphasize a singular action, but clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "only does" or "merely does" should be used instead. Its register is generally informal due to its incorrectness, and you should prefer other expressions in professional environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only does

Focuses solely on the action being performed, limiting other possibilities.

merely does

Emphasizes the simplicity or insignificance of the action.

simply does

Highlights the straightforward nature of the action.

just does

Implies that there is no other action occurring.

exclusively does

Indicates that the action is the only one performed.

solely does

Similar to 'exclusively does', reinforcing the uniqueness of the action.

does nothing else but

Reverses the structure to emphasize the lack of other activities.

does little more than

Suggests minimal effort or activity beyond the specified action.

does no more than

Sets a limit on the extent of the action.

concentrates on doing

Shifts the focus to the act of concentrating on a specific action.

FAQs

What does "nothing but does" mean?

The phrase "nothing but does" is not a standard or grammatically correct construction in English. It typically requires rephrasing to convey a clear meaning. For example, "He only does what he is told."

How can I use "nothing but does" correctly in a sentence?

It's best to avoid using "nothing but does" due to its grammatical incorrectness. Instead, use alternatives like "only does", "merely does", or rephrase the sentence entirely for clarity.

What are some alternatives to "nothing but does"?

Alternatives include "only does", "simply does", and "merely does". Depending on the context, you might also use phrases like "does nothing else but" or "just does".

Is "nothing but does" grammatically correct?

No, "nothing but does" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives for effective communication.