shall be doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shall be doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about future actions or intentions. For example: "I shall be doing the dishes tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"I shall be doing a bit of everything, sail changing, helming, navigation," Mr. Irons said.

The New York Times

Our gooseberry bushes are just bearing fruit and this is what I shall be doing with them – the Pernod matches the tart flavour of gooseberries astonishingly well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We shall be doing this in an orderly manner and I am making available, to those who wish to have one, a postcard over my printed signature as a privy councillor, asking the police, and others to assist them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Afterwards many of those present - including myself - will be marching along Whitehall to the House of Commons to meet MPs and urge them to support this call for a withdrawal, as I shall be doing in approaching Malcolm Rifkind my own local MP.

The Guardian - Opinion

I look forward to the challenges ahead and I shall be doing my utmost to maximise this opportunity for European science, industry and education to benefit from this mission".

BBC

That is certainly what I shall be doing now that I have a copy, albeit acquired by serendipity.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

If the others agree it shall be done".

The Guardian

"I've been praying that God's will shall be done," Mr. Graham told reporters.

The New York Times

"No harm shall be done to China's strategic security interests," the foreign ministry declared.

The Guardian

The Supreme Court has famously stated that the prosecutor's interest "is not that it shall win a case, but that justice shall be done".

The New York Times

We have sports science department and it shall be done very well with the conditions, especially those players who will play 45 minutes.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shall be doing" when you want to express a firm intention or prediction about a future action, particularly in formal contexts. However, be mindful that "will be doing" is often more common in contemporary English.

Common error

Avoid using "shall be doing" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or archaic. Instead, opt for "will be doing" or a more natural-sounding alternative like "plan to" or "intend to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shall be doing" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating a future action or state. It combines the modal verb "shall" with the continuous aspect ("be doing") to express intention or prediction about something that will occur.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shall be doing" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase used to indicate a future action with a sense of intention or prediction. While grammatically correct, it is less common than "will be doing" in contemporary English and carries a more formal tone. Ludwig examples reveal its use across News & Media and Science, but with a low frequency. If you aim for a modern and less formal style, consider alternatives like "will be performing" or "intend to do". Overall, Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the expression while highlighting its stylistic considerations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be performing

Replaces "shall" with the more common "will", indicating a future action.

will be undertaking

Similar to "will be doing", but implies a more formal or significant action.

intend to do

Focuses on the intention to perform an action in the future.

plan to do

Highlights the planning aspect of a future action.

expect to do

Emphasizes the expectation or anticipation of performing an action.

will engage in

Indicates involvement or participation in a future activity.

will carry out

Implies the execution or completion of a future task.

will execute

Indicates a more formal execution of a future action.

will be occupied with

Suggests being busy or engaged in a future activity.

will find myself doing

This implies the action will happen, possibly without active intention.

FAQs

How can I use "shall be doing" in a sentence?

"Shall be doing" indicates a future action, typically with a sense of intention or formality. For example, "I shall be attending the conference next week" conveys a planned future event.

What's the difference between "shall be doing" and "will be doing"?

"Shall be doing" is a more formal and somewhat archaic way to express a future action, especially in first-person constructions. "Will be doing" is the more common and generally preferred form in contemporary English.

Which is correct, "shall be doing" or "will be doing"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "will be doing" is much more common in modern English. "Shall be doing" is more appropriate in formal contexts or when aiming for a traditional tone. If you are looking for less formality you could try "will engage in".

What can I say instead of "shall be doing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "will be performing", "intend to do", or "plan to do". These options often sound more natural in contemporary usage.