suppose doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suppose doing" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to express a hypothetical situation, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "Suppose doing this task could lead to unexpected results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He and she both look exhausted, from (I suppose) doing art all day and then the new baby.

The New Yorker

She was the guest of honor on a cruise ship that spent a night circling New York Harbor — and was, I suppose, doing what President Bush later would boorishly characterize as "replenishing the old coffers" after leaving office.

The New Yorker

It's like a joke for people with no sense of humour" (Mark, Series 7, episode 6). 2. "I suppose doing things you hate is the price you pay to avoid loneliness".

Independent

"If you look hard enough you can find romance and mystery and dark undercurrents everywhere in life – even in the most unprepossessing places, the Park Inn Hotel, Watford, or the cafe at Knutsford services, and I suppose doing that has – to put it rather grandly – become one of my mission statements as a writer".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

No, I don't suppose you did.

BBC

"Did I? I suppose I did".

The New Yorker

I suppose it does.

The New York Times

But suppose it did.

The Economist

But suppose they did.

The New York Times

Suppose everybody did this?

The New York Times - Magazine

I suppose I did.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing a hypothetical action, use more grammatically sound alternatives like "imagine doing" or "consider doing" for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "suppose doing" in formal writing. Instead, rephrase your sentence to use a verb form like "imagine", "consider", or "what if" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suppose doing" attempts to express a hypothetical scenario but lacks grammatical correctness in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the structure is not standard. Instead, it often requires rephrasing to include a proper verb form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "suppose doing" might appear in various texts, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's better to use alternatives such as "imagine doing" or "consider doing" to clearly convey a hypothetical scenario. Its rare occurrence and ungrammatical nature suggest avoiding it in formal writing. It is mostly present in news media, so we advise its use only in similar scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Imagine doing

Focuses on creating a mental picture or scenario.

Consider doing

Emphasizes thoughtful deliberation about undertaking an action.

What if you did

Introduces a conditional event and its potential consequences.

Assuming you were to do

Sets a hypothetical condition for a future action.

If you were to do

Poses a hypothetical situation and its potential outcomes.

Envision yourself doing

Highlights a personal, visualized experience of an action.

Presume you were doing

Suggests a temporary acceptance of a specific ongoing action.

The hypothetical act of doing

Abstractly considers the action itself as a subject.

Let's say you did

Suggests a scenario, used for making a point or creating a plot in a story.

Picture yourself doing

Focuses on mentally envisioning an action.

FAQs

How can I use "suppose" correctly in a sentence about a hypothetical action?

Instead of "suppose doing", use phrases like "suppose we do", "suppose you did", or "suppose they were to do" followed by the action you're considering.

What are some alternatives to "suppose doing" that are more grammatically correct?

Consider using phrases such as "imagine doing", "consider doing", or "what if doing" to express a hypothetical action.

Is "suppose doing" ever considered acceptable in written English?

While you might encounter "suppose doing" in informal contexts, it's generally regarded as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Opt for more conventional phrasing to ensure clarity and correctness.

What's the difference between "suppose doing" and "suppose I do"?

"Suppose doing" is not grammatically correct. "Suppose I do" followed by an action presents a conditional scenario and is grammatically sound.