Only doing vs Doing only

Both "only doing" and "doing only" are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. "Only doing" emphasizes that the action is the only thing being done, while "doing only" emphasizes that the action is the only thing that should be done. The choice between them depends on the intended emphasis in the sentence.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 144 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Only doing"

This phrase is used to emphasize that the action mentioned is the only thing being done, with no other activities involved.

Examples:

I am only doing my homework tonight.
She is only doing what she was asked to do.
They are only doing what they are good at.

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I was only doing what you wanted me to do. Embracing humiliation.
But you realized I was only doing me job.
I know we have our differences and you're only doing this to punish your kids but thanks.
We're only doing it to annoy you, honey.
I was only doing what was expected.
Yes, which you're only doing to reassign blame.
I am only doing my duty in managing his lordship's manor.
You were only doing your job.
I thought Audrey was only doing her grant research at the lab.
I was only doing what Vanessa told me to do.
We are only doing her harm.
You were only doing your duty.
We were only doing the same as them...
I was only doing what the lady asked.
Ms. Katsaros was only doing her job.
Hilgers was only doing his job.
Lisbon was only doing what she thought was best.
You were only doing what you thought was best for Jeremiah.
I am only doing what I think is right.
I am only doing what I have been trained to do.

Alternatives:

just doing
simply doing
merely doing
solely doing
exclusively doing

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Doing only"

This phrase is used to emphasize that the action mentioned is the only thing that should be done, with no other actions allowed or desired.

Examples:

You should be doing only what you are assigned to do.
He is doing only what is necessary for the project.
The students are doing only the required tasks.

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Doing only what is strictly necessary.
It's this one, incidentally, is called: intellectual honesty, in the absence of which falls in the blind ideology, and instead of doing theology, you risk doing only subjective egology...
For a prodigy of his love, his lives in ours in order to transform ours which is of sin, into a spiritual nature capable of doing only good.
First, I never said that the two are limited to doing only sins against chastity, but, on the contrary, I mentioned the possibility that they make also other sins.
Reynolds employing them regularly (sometimes doing only 20 percent of the painting himself) while Gainsborough rarely did.
If every country keeps doing only what it can do best with no innovation but only improving its offer, it will become increasingly static and it will have no chance to adapt to market changes.
I don't know how that would pan out as I've not had feedback on doing only 5 of the 15. Darwin should have had a reason to do 15 exercises instead of just 5.
Brand concept: a century of doing only one thing, one thing did a century
Little by little, Angelo became pilot-test driver, and end up doing only the pilot thanks to successes in small displacements.
I was doing a pathetically slow speed of about 1.3 knots, and they were doing only marginally less pathetic speed of about 1.4: it was like two snails in a mating dance.
I was doing a pathetically slow speed of about 1.3 knots, and they were doing only marginally less pathetic speed of about 1.4: it was like two snails in a mating dance.
I was doing a pathetically slow speed of about 1.3 knots, and they were doing only marginally less pathetic speed of about 1.4:
But if you must choose one, those doing only cardio lose more than those doing only resistance training.
What we're doing only cheats death.
Being glued to the ground, I feel as if I'm doing only half the job.
But you know that I've retired from actual practice and I'm doing only research.
What I did, do, and will be doing only counts.
This is a guy who dedicated his entire life to doing only good.
Our committee had already debated this before being asked to do so, which we were in fact doing only yesterday.
We are doing only half as well as we did in 2000-2006.

Alternatives:

only performing
only executing
only carrying out
only completing
only accomplishing

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Only doing vs Doing only

"Only doing"

"Doing only"

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