can't help but do vs can't help doing

Both "can't help but do" and "can't help doing" are correct and commonly used phrases in English. They are interchangeable and convey the same meaning. The choice between the two depends on personal preference or the context in which they are used.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 1065 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"can't help but do"

This phrase is used to express that someone is unable to avoid doing something. It is often followed by a verb in the base form.

Examples:

I can't help but feel sorry for him.
She can't help but laugh at his jokes.
He can't help but admire her talent.
They can't help but wonder what will happen next.
We can't help but notice the changes around us.

Show examples from the web [+]

And we say, you are asking, you are completing step one, you can't help but do that.
And we say, you are asking, you are completing step one, you can't help but do that.
And now that it's my thing, and I can't help but realize I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
I can't help you but I do give good phone.
I can't help it, but don't let it bother you. It's not your problem.
It's just, I can't help but wonder, why do you seem so confident?
But you know, I can't help but feel the answer's out here somewhere.
But I can't help but see it from a perspective.
And I can't help but analyze her with dark intent.
I can't help but wonder which part is making the judgments.
I can't help but enjoy the feeling.
I can't help but think that this trip is an elaborate excuse to break up.
The people trapped here, myself included can't help but ask why.
And you can't help but recoil.
I can't help but wondering...
Detective Terney, I can't help but notice you're not carrying a ball.
I can't help but remember what Lumley said.
I can't help but see you as my own kids.
Can't help but wonder what happened to these people.
Can't help but wonder what happened to these people.

Alternatives:

can't help doing
can't avoid doing
can't refrain from doing
can't resist doing
can't stop doing

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"can't help doing"

This phrase is used to convey the idea that someone is unable to prevent themselves from doing something. It is often followed by a gerund (verb+ing).

Examples:

I can't help feeling nervous before a presentation.
She can't help eating chocolate when she's stressed.
He can't help smiling when he sees her.
They can't help laughing at his jokes.
We can't help loving our pets.

Show examples from the web [+]

I have these little rituals that I can't help doing.
You can't help doing the things you do.
I can't help doing that.
I can't help what I'm doing...
Seeing how happy it makes her, and knowing how forgetful she is, we can't help ourselves from doing it every time she comes back in the room.
You have to try to understand that he can't help what he's doing, officer.
I can't help what I'm doing... I don't want to hurt you... ughh...
Doing things for people that can't help themselves.
They're already doing it, doesn't mean you can't help.
And I can't help think that by shooting Kareem Said, I kept myself from doing something far worse.
What you're doing sounds amazing, but I can't help thinking it's also wrong.
I can't help wondering what someone with your credentials is doing in a place like this.
You can't help her... she needs to learn a lesson about doing things for herself.
If you're doing something illegal, I can't help you.
It's like, I know what I'm doing is wrong, and I just can't help myself.
I can't help but think someone at customs wasn't doing their job.
If I can't help a man like am I doing here?
And now that it's my thing, and I can't help but realize I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
Sometimes she can be kind of simple like that just doing things without thinking, like a chicken that can't help eating'.
But when you're doing it with people you love, you just can't help smiling.

Alternatives:

can't help but do
can't avoid doing
can't refrain from doing
can't resist doing
can't stop doing

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can't help but do vs can't help doing

"can't help but do"

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