stick to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

'stick to doing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that someone should focus on or remain focused on a particular task. For example: "If you want to be successful, you need to stick to doing what you know best."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

They should stick to doing it.

The New York Times

My goal was to stick to doing art.

The Guardian - Books

Will stick to doing #DeadlineDay from my car in the future.

Independent

I thought I'd just stick to doing things that I enjoyed or felt challenged by".

Independent

She could, but she might want to stick to doing ad soundtracks.

The Guardian - Music

Far better to stick to doing a column about domestic bargains such as rubber-backed carpets and battery chickens.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But it will take a stick to do the lion's share of the work of breaking America's oil dependency.

The Economist

You can use your fingers or a cocktail stick to do this.

WikiHow

Use gloves if you've got them, or a stick to do the scrubbing, and rinse your hands thoroughly when you're done.

WikiHow

If they stuck to doing this, they would be practically invulnerable, but, no — curiosity is their downfall.

The New Yorker

If they stuck to doing this, they would be practically invulnerable, but, no curiosity is their downfall.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stick to doing" when you want to emphasize the importance of consistency and focus in pursuing a particular action or task. It suggests a deliberate choice to avoid distractions and maintain a steady course.

Common error

While "stick to doing" is grammatically sound, avoid using it in excessively formal contexts where simpler alternatives like "continue" or "keep doing" might be more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stick to doing" functions as a phrasal verb emphasizing the continuation or adherence to a particular action or task. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable. Examples show its application in various contexts, reinforcing its role in expressing sustained effort.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stick to doing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrasal verb that emphasizes consistency and focus in pursuing a particular action or task. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable. The phrase is seen in a variety of contexts such as News, Media and Wiki. While there are many ways to continue or maintain one's effort, such as continue doing, keep doing, or persist in doing, "stick to doing" is a phrase that you can reliably use in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue doing

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action, focusing on maintaining a consistent effort.

keep doing

Highlights the persistence and continuation of the activity, suggesting a sustained effort.

persist in doing

Indicates a determined effort to continue despite potential obstacles or difficulties.

adhere to doing

Implies a strict and unwavering commitment to the activity, highlighting a formal approach.

maintain doing

Focuses on preserving or upholding the action, emphasizing stability and consistency.

sustain doing

Stresses the ability to keep the activity going over a long period, highlighting endurance.

dedicate oneself to doing

Implies a strong commitment and focus on the specific activity, suggesting a personal investment.

devote oneself to doing

Suggests a significant investment of time and energy in the activity, emphasizing dedication and focus.

concentrate on doing

Focuses on channeling efforts and attention towards the activity, emphasizing focus and efficiency.

focus on doing

Highlights the importance of directing attention and effort towards the activity, emphasizing clarity of purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "stick to doing" in a sentence?

You can use "stick to doing" to advise someone to remain focused on a task, such as, "If you want to improve, you need to "stick to doing" the exercises daily.".

What are some alternatives to "stick to doing"?

You can use alternatives like "continue doing", "keep doing", or "persist in doing" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "stick to do" or "stick to doing"?

"Stick to do" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "stick to doing", where "doing" is a gerund acting as a noun.

What's the nuance between "stick to doing" and "focus on doing"?

"Stick to doing" implies maintaining a consistent course of action, whereas "focus on doing" suggests directing attention and effort towards a specific task. The former emphasizes consistency, while the latter emphasizes concentration.