what exactly are you doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what exactly are you doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to inquire about someone's specific actions or intentions in a direct manner. Example: "I'm curious about your current project. What exactly are you doing to achieve your goals?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

What exactly are you doing?

The New York Times - Magazine

"And what exactly are you doing here?" she asks finally, and he whispers, "I am a high-school teacher.

The New Yorker

So, Shaun Ryder, what exactly are you doing on ITV1's I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!?

The Guardian

When you sit down to write, what exactly are you doing:using writing to develop your ideas or writing to document your work?

The Guardian

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is quoted with approval for saying that it is "time for someone to ask Hamas: what exactly are YOU doing to bring prosperity to your people".

Independent

Day by day, while your Yankees are winning, your signal-shorn fans are losing, and what, exactly, are you doing about it besides spending a small fortune on those tacky I-want-my-Yankees man-in-the-street spots that have been flooding the airwaves?

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

What exactly were you doing on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001?

The New York Times - Books

Decide what exactly are you planning to do.

WikiHow

And what exactly are they doing to you while you're doing it to them?

The Guardian - Opinion

'What are you doing, exactly?' she says, after the socially legal minimum of pleasantries.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Who did you work for exactly, and what were you doing for them?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what exactly are you doing" when you need a clear and specific understanding of someone's actions. This phrase is suitable for situations where clarification is essential.

Common error

Don't use "what exactly are you doing" in situations where a general understanding is sufficient. Using it in informal settings can sometimes sound overly formal or confrontational.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what exactly are you doing" serves as an interrogative, primarily functioning to elicit a detailed explanation of an ongoing activity. Ludwig provides various examples that showcase its use in seeking clarification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what exactly are you doing" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to seek detailed clarification about someone's actions. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's prevalent in neutral contexts such as news and media. The phrase’s directness makes it suitable for situations where specific understanding is needed, but care should be taken in informal settings to avoid sounding overly formal. Overall, it remains a versatile and useful expression for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is it that you are doing

Emphasizes the "it" to draw more attention to the action itself.

what are you up to

More informal and implies curiosity about someone's current activity.

what is your current activity

More formal and directly asks about the present action.

can you elaborate on your actions

Asks for a more detailed explanation of what someone is doing.

what are you intending to do

Focuses on the future intentions rather than the current actions.

what is the purpose of your actions

Shifts the focus to the reason behind the activity.

what objective are you pursuing

More formal; inquires about the goal someone is trying to achieve.

what's your plan

Informal; seeks to understand the person's strategy or approach.

what are your steps

Asks for a breakdown of the individual actions being taken.

how are you proceeding

Focuses on the manner or method by which someone is carrying out a task.

FAQs

How to use "what exactly are you doing" in a sentence?

You can use "what exactly are you doing" to ask for clarification about someone's actions, like "I see you're working on something, what exactly are you doing?"

What can I say instead of "what exactly are you doing"?

You can use alternatives like "what are you up to", "what are you working on", or "what is your current activity" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "what exactly are you doing"?

It's appropriate to use "what exactly are you doing" when you need a specific and detailed explanation of someone's actions, especially when clarity is important or when you suspect something is amiss.

Is "what exactly are you doing" formal or informal?

"What exactly are you doing" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it can sound slightly more direct than alternatives like "what are you up to".