refuse doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'refuse doing' is not correct or usable in written English; the correct form is 'refuse to do.' For example, "The teacher refused to let the students play during class."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

People will bake at night and put it on the shelf — and I refuse doing that".

The New Yorker

People will bake at night and put it on the shelf and I refuse doing that".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If they refuse, don't feel bad!

WikiHow

If they refuse, don't push them.

WikiHow

If they refuse, don't drive them.

WikiHow

If they refuse, don't keep bugging them.

WikiHow

More than 50% of the patients who refused did not provide an explicit reason for their refusal.

BMJ Open

At present, most asylum-seekers whose claims are refused do not leave.

The Economist

Most who refused did so because of potential side effects.

British Journal of Cancer

Those who refused did so mainly because of time contingencies.

BMC Family Practice

Patients who refused did so for various reasons (fatigue, "no time", etc).

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "refuse to do" instead of "refuse doing". The infinitive form is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Common error

Avoid using the gerund form "doing" after "refuse". The correct grammatical structure requires the infinitive "to do". For example, instead of "I refuse doing that", say "I "refuse to do" that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refuse doing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct grammatical function involves using the infinitive form, ""refuse to do"", to express the act of declining to perform an action. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refuse doing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""refuse to do"". Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. When you intend to express that someone is unwilling to perform an action, always use the infinitive form. Although there are some examples, the phrase "refuse doing" is best avoided in both formal and informal writing. Instead, consider alternative and grammatically correct phrases such as "decline to do" or "reject doing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refuse to do

Corrects the grammatical error by using the infinitive form.

decline to do

Offers a more formal synonym for refusing an action.

reject doing

Emphasizes the act of actively pushing something away.

disapprove of doing

Focuses on not agreeing with or supporting the action.

object to doing

Highlights opposition to a particular action.

resist doing

Implies an effort to fight against performing the action.

abstain from doing

Suggests a conscious decision to refrain from the action.

avoid doing

Focuses on preventing oneself from carrying out the action.

shun doing

Implies a deliberate avoidance, often due to moral or ethical reasons.

turn down doing

Suggests a polite refusal of an action or offer.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "refuse" with another verb?

The correct way to use "refuse" with another verb is to follow it with the infinitive form "to do". For example, you should say "I "refuse to do" that" instead of "I refuse doing that".

What can I say instead of "refuse doing"?

Since "refuse doing" is grammatically incorrect, you can use alternatives like ""refuse to do"", "decline to do", or "reject doing" with the gerund corrected to the infinitive.

Is "refuse doing" grammatically correct?

No, "refuse doing" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is ""refuse to do"", where "to do" is the infinitive form of the verb.

How does the meaning change when using "refuse to do" instead of "refuse doing"?

Using ""refuse to do"" ensures grammatical correctness and clarity. "Refuse doing" is not a standard English construction, so using the infinitive form avoids confusion and maintains professionalism.