useful to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "useful to doing" is not correct and cannot be used in written English.
To make the sentence grammatically correct you can replace it with the phrase "useful for doing"; for example, "This tool is useful for doing that task".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's fun to use and gives children something useful to do during backyard parties.

The New York Times

In thinking about mobility, migration or poverty reduction, it is useful to do the analysis using equivalent cohorts.

Latin American Economic Review

You don't have to provide us with a means of contacting you but it can sometimes be useful to do so.

The Guardian

Is it useful to do so?

Cornell University

I had left myself with nothing useful to do.

The Guardian

Couldn't he find something more useful to do?

The Guardian - Books

He says: "I really want to do something useful, to do some good in the world.

The Guardian

This phenomenal success was down to giving supporters something tangible and useful to do.

The Guardian

And some of those real estate brokers will find something else useful to do.

The New York Times

You will find it useful to do this before your next prototype assignment.

University of California, Berkeley

Weil's theorem on character sum estimates is very useful to do this.

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the benefits of an action, consider using synonyms like "helpful", "beneficial", or "advantageous" with the preposition "for" to add variety to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "to" with a gerund (a verb ending in -ing) after "useful". The correct preposition is "for". Using "to" in this context is a common grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "useful to doing" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. The correct form is "useful for doing", where "useful" functions as an adjective describing the benefit of an action expressed by the gerund.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "useful to doing" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI confirms, the correct form is "useful for doing". This ensures that your writing is clear, concise, and adheres to standard English grammar. Remember to use "useful for" followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing) when describing the benefits of an action. Using this structure will enhance the credibility and readability of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

useful for doing

Changes the preposition to "for", which is grammatically correct with a gerund.

helpful for doing

Replaces "useful" with "helpful", maintaining a similar meaning and using the correct preposition "for".

beneficial for doing

Substitutes "useful" with "beneficial", offering a more formal tone while keeping the correct grammar.

advantageous for doing

Offers a synonym with a slightly stronger emphasis on benefits, using "for" correctly.

valuable for doing

Replaces "useful" with "valuable", which has a slightly stronger connotation of worth.

good for doing

Uses a simpler term, "good", while maintaining grammatical correctness.

suitable for doing

Emphasizes appropriateness for an action, using the correct preposition.

effective for doing

Focuses on the effectiveness of an action, maintaining correct grammar.

practical for doing

Highlights the practicality of an action, using the correct preposition "for".

instrumental for doing

Suggests that something is essential for an action, maintaining the correct grammatical structure.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "useful" with a gerund?

The correct preposition to use with a gerund after "useful" is "for". For example, it's correct to say "This method is useful for solving the problem". Using "to" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "useful to doing"?

You can use alternatives like "useful for doing", "helpful for doing", or "beneficial for doing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "useful to doing" or "useful for doing"?

"Useful for doing" is the correct grammatical form. "Useful to doing" is an incorrect usage.

Are there contexts where "useful to" can be followed by a verb?

Yes, "useful to" is typically followed by a base form verb, not a gerund. For instance, "This information is useful to know" is correct. However, when a gerund is needed, use "useful for".