terrific at doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terrific at doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express someone's exceptional skill or ability in performing a specific task or activity. Example: "She is terrific at doing presentations, always engaging her audience with her dynamic style."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Also, the people at the N.I.H. are terrific at doing basic research, but what microbicides need right now is a product-development approach, which is what companies do to get a green light from the F.D.A.

The New York Times - Health

But Google still isn't likely reason for carriers to quiver – mainly because building a service that meets the needs of consumers means building a consumer-facing service organization, which is not something Google has proven terrific at doing just yet.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He's terrific at what he does".

The Guardian - Sport

But Mr. Felder's friend and frequent adversary, Eleanor B. Alter, calls him "terrific at what he does, who knows how to negotiate".

The New York Times

She was a terrific lady and did a wonderful job".

The New York Times - Sports

Josh Scheer and Rebecca Mooney were our producers, Maria Diaz our engineer, and Sebastian Grubaugh has been the engineer here at USC doing a terrific job bringing this show.

Huffington Post

How terrific do I feel since quitting?

The Guardian - Opinion

UCL is a terrific place to do research," he said.

Independent

At the risk of stating the obvious, because the UK is a terrific place to do business.

Huffington Post

(Most of them do; Giacometti was terrific at shoulders).

The New Yorker

Tim Supple's Indian version of A Midsummer Night's Dream is currently doing terrific business at the Roundhouse and theatregoers clearly aren't put off by the fact it is performed in no less than seven languages.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terrific at doing" to highlight someone's exceptional skill in a specific activity, especially when emphasizing their natural talent or developed expertise. Make sure to use it when you want to stress that the person's skill is beyond just being "good".

Common error

While "terrific at doing" is acceptable, overusing the adjective "terrific" can sound informal or overly enthusiastic in formal writing. In those situations, opting for a more professional synonym like "proficient" or "adept" might improve the writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terrific at doing" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun by describing a quality or skill. It combines an adjective ("terrific") with a prepositional phrase ("at doing") to express competence in a particular activity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "terrific at doing" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to express admiration for someone's skill in a specific task. While confirmed as valid by Ludwig AI, its frequency is rare, mainly appearing in news and media contexts. For more formal settings, synonyms like "proficient" or "adept" are preferable. Using "terrific at doing" effectively involves understanding its register and choosing more sophisticated alternatives when appropriate. Keep in mind that while the expression is correct, it can be less formal than other possible options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excellent at performing

Replaces "terrific" with "excellent" and "doing" with "performing" emphasizing a high level of skill.

skilled in executing

Uses "skilled" instead of "terrific" and "executing" instead of "doing", focusing on expertise in carrying out tasks.

proficient in undertaking

Substitutes "terrific" with "proficient" and "doing" with "undertaking", suggesting competence in commencing tasks.

adept at handling

Replaces "terrific" with "adept" and "doing" with "handling", highlighting skill in managing situations.

talented in carrying out

Uses "talented" for "terrific" and "carrying out" for "doing", emphasizing natural ability in task completion.

competent at completing

Substitutes "terrific" with "competent" and "doing" with "completing", focusing on sufficiency in finishing tasks.

accomplished at achieving

Replaces "terrific" with "accomplished" and "doing" with "achieving", emphasizing success in goal attainment.

masterful in the art of

Uses "masterful" for "terrific" and adds "in the art of", suggesting expertise and finesse.

remarkable at performing

Replaces "terrific" with "remarkable" and "doing" with "performing", emphasizing an outstanding level of skill.

extremely capable at

Substitutes "terrific" with "extremely capable", highlighting a high level of competence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "terrific at doing" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "proficient in performing", "adept at handling", or "skilled in executing". These alternatives convey competence with a more professional tone.

Is "terrific at doing" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "terrific at doing" may sound less formal than typically expected in academic writing. Consider alternatives such as "highly skilled in" or "demonstrates expertise in" to maintain a scholarly tone.

What's the difference between "terrific at doing" and "good at doing"?

"Terrific at doing" implies a higher level of skill and enthusiasm compared to "good at doing". While "good" suggests basic competence, "terrific" indicates exceptional ability or talent in the specific area.

How to use "terrific at doing" in a sentence?

You can use "terrific at doing" to describe someone's exceptional ability in a specific task. For instance, "She is "terrific at doing" presentations, always engaging her audience with her dynamic style".