want doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "want doing" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English. Example: "I want doing this task" should be rephrased for clarity.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Ben's the guy you want doing your lobster bake on the beach".

The New York Times - Food

The party is an instrumental collectivity; over the years it's been the tool most likely to do the job that I want doing.

The Guardian

Once you have communicated effectively what it is you want doing, it is good practice to make progress checks – that way any potential misunderstandings get ironed out before the deadline looms.

The Guardian - Money

He would be freer to break from his past of doing what the polluters want, doing what the fat cats want, and he would be freer to join in debates... and start responding to what the American people want.

The New York Times

If you want, doing a values card sort is a great way to kick start this process.

Huffington Post

then figure out which programs you want doing this.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I want do to it.

The Guardian - Music

Want doesn't get.

BBC

We do not want do something that is not meaningful.

BMC Health Services Research

F2: We go wherever we want don't we?

Ageing and Society

Use the "Think, Want, Do" technique.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "want doing" in formal writing. Instead, use the grammatically correct form "want to do".

Common error

Don't follow "want" with a gerund (verb ending in -ing) to express desire or intention. Always use the infinitive form (to + verb) after "want".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "want doing" functions as a verbal phrase where "want" indicates desire and "doing" represents an action. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

38%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "want doing" may appear in some contexts, it is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies it as such. The correct form to express desire or intention is "want to do". Although understandable in informal settings, using the incorrect form can detract from clarity and credibility in more formal writing. Therefore, it's best to stick to "want to do" and similar alternatives like "desire to do" or "wish to do" for better communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

want to do

Corrects the grammatical structure by using the infinitive form of the verb.

desire to do

Replaces "want" with a more formal synonym and uses the correct infinitive form.

wish to do

Similar to "desire to do", but with a slightly different connotation of hoping or wishing.

intend to do

Focuses on intention rather than desire, using the correct infinitive form.

plan to do

Emphasizes planning or preparation to perform an action, using the correct infinitive.

aim to do

Indicates a goal or objective, using the correct infinitive form.

would like to do

Offers a more polite or formal way of expressing a desire.

have a desire to do

Expresses desire in a more verbose and emphatic manner.

feel like doing

Indicates a momentary inclination toward a certain action.

be inclined to do

Suggests a tendency or leaning toward performing an action.

FAQs

What is the correct way to express a desire to perform an action?

The correct way is to use the infinitive form of the verb after "want". For example, say "I "want to do" it" instead of "I want doing it".

Is "want doing" grammatically correct?

No, "want doing" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is ""want to do"".

What can I say instead of "want doing"?

Use ""want to do"", "desire to do", or "wish to do" as alternatives, depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I want to do" or "I want doing"?

"I want to do" is correct. "I want doing" is grammatically incorrect.