perform an act

USAGE SUMMARY

"perform an act" is entirely correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in contexts where you are asking someone to do something, such as "Can you please perform an act of kindness today?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then, with great delight, he watched Dr. Yousof Asefi perform an act of sweet triumph.

The New York Times - Arts

How could I perform an act of what amounted to self-destruction?

The Guardian - Books

In sum, Paragraph XVI prohibits compelling a suspect to perform an act that itself generates incriminating evidence; it does not prohibit compelling a suspect to be present so that another person may perform an act generating such evidence….

The Washington Post

Compelling a defendant to perform an act that is incriminating in nature is precisely what Paragraph XVI prohibits.

The Washington Post

And Parks was by no means the first person to perform an act of civil disobedience on a bus.

The New York Times

In this instant the viewer may decide to shrug off the feeling as too familiar or perform an act of penance.

The New York Times - Books

The McGreevey campaign will also try to perform an act of political jiujitsu by using Mr. DiFrancesco's quarter-century of experience in state government against him.

The New York Times

But we were refused by the registrar, who said it was "not worth her job" to perform an act of civil disobedience.

The Guardian - Opinion

The students had been asked first to do something that gave them pleasure and then to perform an act of selfless kindness.

The New York Times - Magazine

Even those religions that order a transgressor to perform an act of contrition expect him to be actually contrite -- genuine remorse and actual reformation are required.

The New York Times - Magazine

But art, unlike nature, requires someone to perform an act of will, and where there's a mind directing a hand there's a story.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perform an act" when you want to emphasize the execution or carrying out of a specific action, often with a sense of purpose or formality.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "perform an act" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "do something" or "take action" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perform an act" functions as a verb phrase, where "perform" is the verb indicating the action and "an act" is the noun phrase specifying what is being done. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "perform an act" is a versatile expression used to describe the execution of an action. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and finds frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific domains. While its register leans towards neutral to formal, it's essential to consider the context when choosing this phrase, as simpler alternatives may be more suitable for casual settings. The wide range of examples available through Ludwig illustrates the phrase's adaptability and correctness in formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accomplish an action

Highlights the successful completion of a pre-defined work.

execute a deed

Emphasizes the formal or legal completion of an action.

carry out a task

Focuses on the completion of a specific piece of work or duty.

undertake a measure

Suggests initiating a deliberate action for a particular purpose.

implement a procedure

Focuses on putting a set of instructions or rules into effect.

enact a process

Highlights the implementation or activation of a series of steps.

discharge a responsibility

Emphasizes the fulfillment of a duty or obligation.

effectuate an operation

Indicates the achievement or bringing about of a specific operation.

initiate a step

Implies starting a specific stage within a larger process.

prosecute an endeavor

Suggests pursuing a task or goal with determination.

FAQs

How can I use "perform an act" in a sentence?

You can use "perform an act" to describe carrying out an action, such as "The doctor had to perform an act of euthanasia" or "The students were asked to perform an act of kindness".

What phrases are similar to "perform an act"?

Alternatives include "carry out a task", "execute a deed", or "undertake a measure", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it more appropriate to say "perform an act" or "do an action"?

"Perform an act" is generally more formal and implies a deliberate, often significant, action. "Do an action" is less common and can sound redundant, as "action" is inherent in the verb "do".

What is the difference between "perform an act" and "commit an act"?

"Perform an act" is neutral and can refer to any action, good or bad. "Commit an act" typically implies doing something wrong or illegal, like "commit a crime".