required doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "required doing" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that a certain action is necessary, but it is better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "The project has many tasks that required doing before the deadline."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Making this dream a reality required doing two things.

The Guardian - Tech

"There were proposals that were naïve, that required doing complex diagnostics with saliva, things like that.

The New Yorker

"For me to really confront sexism would have required doing something about my relationships with men, and I couldn't.

The Guardian - Film

Previously, getting his name in the papers had usually required doing something in the world — building a skyscraper, cheating on his wife, giving a speech in New Hampshire.

The New Yorker

In some countries it has required doing political battles.

Science Magazine

None of us ever quite mastered the navigational systems on the cars, but then this would have required doing something that Man has resisted since the Dawn of Time, namely reading the manual.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

3: while localization is required do.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

The assumptions required do, however, remain restrictive.

Biometrics

"Doing it requires doing things you may not want to do".

The New York Times

This requires doing more than you're told to do.

Forbes

Serving people requires doing your homework to know them.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "required doing", consider if a more direct verb construction would improve clarity. For example, instead of "The task required doing research", try "The task required researching".

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple gerund phrases. Over-reliance on gerunds like "required doing" can make your writing sound awkward and convoluted. Opt for simpler verb forms where possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "required doing" functions as a gerund phrase, where "doing" acts as a noun. Ludwig indicates it describes an action that is a necessary component of a task or situation. While grammatically acceptable, simpler verb constructions often provide greater clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "required doing" is a grammatically acceptable but not always the most elegant way to express that an action is necessary. Ludwig's analysis shows that while it's used across various contexts from News & Media to Science, simpler and more direct verb constructions often offer better clarity. The analysis recommends considering alternatives like "necessitated doing" or "entailed doing" for improved writing style. As Ludwig AI highlights, choosing a more direct verb construction can prevent awkward phrasing and enhance readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

necessitated doing

Emphasizes that the action was an unavoidable consequence or condition.

entailed doing

Highlights that the action was a necessary part of a more complex process or situation.

involved doing

Suggests that the action was one component among others.

demanded doing

Stresses the urgency or importance of the action.

called for doing

Implies that the action was appropriate or advisable in the circumstances.

made it necessary to do

Expresses the action as a condition that had to be met.

rendered necessary to do

Highlights that the action was made unavoidable by a prior event or condition.

obliged one to do

Emphasizes a sense of duty or compulsion.

left no choice but to do

Focuses on the lack of alternatives.

predicated doing

Indicates the action was a foundation for something else.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "required doing" for better clarity?

Instead of "The project required doing extensive research", you could say "The project "required extensive research"" or "We had to conduct extensive research for the project".

What's the difference between "required doing" and "required to do"?

"Required to do" is typically more direct and grammatically preferred. For example, "He was required to submit the report" is clearer than "Submitting the report required doing by him".

Is "required doing" considered formal or informal?

While not strictly informal, "required doing" can sound less polished than alternatives like "necessary to do" or "needed to be done", especially in professional writing. It's generally recommended to use more direct phrasing.

When is it appropriate to use "required doing"?

It is appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize the action itself as a necessary part of a process or situation, though rephrasing for clarity is often beneficial. Consider alternatives like "necessitated doing" or "entailed doing".