opt for doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "opt for doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to choose to do something. Here is an example: John opted for doing the task himself rather than hiring someone else.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

When I asked Dr. Coleman why doctors opt for doing procedures on the patients that the doctor would not want for herself, she explained this is a complex issue.

Forbes

What do you want to do: everything or let her die?' Given that choice, most surrogates would opt for doing something rather than nothing, even if 'something' perpetuated open-ended pain and discomfort. 5.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I was fully engaged in this activity …… I don't like writing, so I opted for doing audio-based blogging.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

We opted for doing it face to face with a piano and singing from the heart, no strings, no anything, and that's the way it was done.

Huffington Post

Overall, sixty-four per cent say no to the renaming and twenty-four per cent say yes, with twelve per cent opting for don't know/don't care.

The New Yorker

Others opted for "Don't worry, be happy", between chants of "Hands up/Don't shoot" and "No justice/No Peace".

The Guardian

Parker opted for "Don't Speak" by No Doubt and really gave it her all.

Huffington Post

Workers who opt for it do not seem to be seen as disloyal.

The Economist

He wanted to be either a historian or scientist, and eventually opted for biochemistry, doing postgraduate research at Oxford on skin glands and cystic fibrosis.

The Guardian

And if you do opt for another provider, do your research on the company's service, options and pricing to be sure you're getting a better deal than you already have.

HuffPost

If you do opt for resistance exercise, perform a healthy, balanced regimen of weightlifting and body weight-type exercises.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "opt for doing" when you want to emphasize the conscious act of choosing a particular course of action over others. It's suitable when presenting alternatives and justifying the selected option.

Common error

Be careful not to use overly verbose constructions such as "opt to choose doing", as "opt" already implies a choice. Stick to the concise "opt for doing" to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opt for doing" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a choice or decision to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI validates this usage by presenting examples where the phrase is used to express a deliberate selection.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "opt for doing" is a grammatically sound way to express the deliberate choice of one action over others. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Although relatively rare, it appears in diverse contexts like news, science and wikis. When using "opt for doing", ensure you're emphasizing a conscious decision-making process. Consider simpler or more formal alternatives, such as "choose to do" or "elect to do", depending on the desired tone. Avoid redundant phrasing like "opt to choose". Overall, "opt for doing" is a versatile phrase for conveying selection and preference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choose to do

Direct synonym emphasizing the selection of an action.

decide to do

Highlights the decision-making aspect of selecting an action.

elect to do

Implies a formal or deliberate choice of action.

prefer to do

Indicates a preference when selecting an action.

go with doing

More informal, suggesting a selection from available options.

settle on doing

Suggests making a final decision after considering alternatives.

take to doing

Highlights an inclination or habitual action.

resort to doing

Indicates choosing an action as a last option or necessity.

lean towards doing

Expresses a tendency or inclination towards a particular action.

gravitate towards doing

Suggests a natural inclination or attraction to a particular action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "opt for doing" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "elect to do" or "choose to do". These alternatives convey a similar meaning but with a more elevated style.

Is it always necessary to use a gerund after "opt for"?

While "opt for doing" is grammatically correct, you can also say "opt for a noun" (e.g., "opt for simplicity"). The choice depends on whether you're referring to an action or a thing.

What's a simpler way to say "opt for doing" in everyday conversation?

In casual conversation, you can simply say "go with" followed by the action, such as "go with doing" it yourself" or "choose". These are more direct and less formal.

How does "opt for doing" differ from "prefer to do"?

While both indicate a choice, "prefer to do" usually expresses a general preference, whereas "opt for doing" suggests a specific decision made from a set of alternatives in a particular situation.