tantamount to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tantamount to doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that one action is equivalent to another, often in a moral or legal context. Example: "His refusal to cooperate is tantamount to doing nothing to resolve the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Any way to find out would be tantamount to doing the calculation itself.

The New York Times - Science

Having thrown out this suggestion, Obama is set to leave the current system in place and hand its ultimate fate over to Congress, which is tantamount to doing nothing.

The New Yorker

Mr. Bernanke has long argued that central banks can increase the potency of their policies through clear communication, because convincing investors that you will do something is tantamount to doing it.

The New York Times

"I don't trust the corporations that you work for, every time you take this line with me," he said, making pointy fingers in Davis's face, emphasising that to question his ideas was tantamount to doing PR for Monsanto.

The Guardian - Opinion

Trying to do too much was tantamount to doing nothing.

Huffington Post

The historical frequency with which assassinations occur and the fact that we are a more heavily armed nation makes one wonder whether there is one among us who believes, as did Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, that shooting the president is tantamount to doing the nation a service.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

There are areas where conducting an experiment is still, in terms of cost, tantamount to just doing it.

Harvard Business Review

The life she lived before she transformed into Angelyne seems incidental; writing about her past seems tantamount to CNN doing a story about how Santa isn't real.

Vice

It is tantamount to saying, Don't bother putting up low salaries, the state will do it for you".

The Economist

But America, among others, says this is tantamount to reopening done deals.

The Economist

Although both Vickers and BMW portrayed their agreement as tantamount to a done deal, it is still possible that disgruntled losers in the auction will mount a counterattack.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tantamount to doing" to draw a strong comparison between two actions or their effects, especially when emphasizing moral or legal consequences. For a softer comparison, consider "similar to doing".

Common error

While "tantamount to doing" is appropriate for formal contexts, avoid it in casual conversations. Simpler phrases like "the same as doing" are often more effective in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tantamount to doing" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating that one action or state is equivalent in effect or significance to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and well-supported.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tantamount to doing" is a useful phrase to indicate that an action is virtually equivalent to another. Ludwig AI analysis confirms the phrase's correctness and applicability, particularly in formal and news-related contexts. While its semantic range is narrow, it is more precise and stronger than the phrase "similar to doing" when expressing the practical equivalence of two actions. Remember to consider using it in a correct context and register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equivalent to doing

This phrase directly replaces "tantamount" with its synonym "equivalent", maintaining the original meaning.

equal to doing

This substitutes "tantamount" with "equal", emphasizing a direct equivalence in impact or effect.

amounts to doing

This phrase focuses on the cumulative effect of an action reaching a certain level of consequence.

is the same as doing

This clearly states that an action is identical in result or implication to another.

is effectively doing

It indicates the real or practical result is the same as "doing", even if not literally.

is virtually doing

Emphasizes the near or almost complete equivalence of one action to "doing" something else.

bears resemblance to doing

Suggests that there are strong similarities between one action and "doing" another thing.

is akin to doing

This highlights the analogous nature of two actions or their consequences.

mirrors doing

Implies that something reflects another act, implying similar process and effects.

approximates to doing

Focuses on how closely a thing resembles doing something, in a non-exact way.

FAQs

What does "tantamount to doing" mean?

The phrase "tantamount to doing" means equivalent in effect or value. It implies that one action is practically the same as another, especially in terms of consequences.

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

You can use it to equate actions. For example, "His silence is "equivalent to doing" nothing to stop the rumor".

What are some alternatives to "tantamount to doing"?

Alternatives include "equal to doing", "amounts to doing", or "is the same as doing", depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "tantamount of doing" instead of "tantamount to doing"?

No, the correct preposition is "to". "Tantamount of doing" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "tantamount to doing".