to do a thing vs to do one thing

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'To do a thing' is a common expression used to refer to doing something in general, while 'to do one thing' is more specific and refers to doing a particular action out of many possible options.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 660 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"to do a thing"

This phrase is used to refer to doing something in general or unspecified. It is a common expression in English.

Examples:

I need to do a thing before we leave.
Can you do a thing for me?
Sometimes you just have to do a thing to get it done.

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I'm trying to do a thing, and you're not helping me out, so please stop.
Doug, I'm trying to do a thing here.
She must have been a bit mad to do a thing like that.
You might've been hoping for something but, I'm sorry, I'm not going to do a thing.
If you are told by your leaders to do a thing, do it.
How could you ask me to do a thing like that?
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.-A Short History of England
He's too chicken to do a thing.
You don't have to do a thing.
And you don't have to do a thing.
They got to do a thing to reverse it.
Babe, we're trying to do a thing here.
You won't have to do a thing.
Police haven't been able to do a thing.
And none of are you going to do a thing...
You won't have to do a thing...
Great families, afraid to do a thing.
I could break your neck and you wouldn't be able to do a thing about it.
I just think it's more fun to do a thing.
Neither you or your family ever have to do a thing for me.

Alternatives:

to do something
to complete a task
to accomplish a goal
to perform an action

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"to do one thing"

This phrase is used to refer to doing a specific action out of many possible options. It adds emphasis on the singular nature of the action.

Examples:

Out of all the things you could do, just do one thing.
If you can only do one thing today, make it count.
Let's focus on doing one thing really well.

Show examples from the web [+]

I asked you guys to do one thing.
'Cause I might be able to do one thing.
And raised to do one thing.
His body, his mind, his instincts are all designed to do one thing - to kill.
But I beg you to do one thing for me before you send me back.
I can't even ask you to do one thing without you messing it up.
The inner impulse orders you to do one thing.
Windows 10 allows you to do one thing in many ways.
Route planner proposes to do one thing but does it well.
Men telling people to do one thing while they do the opposite.
Tell me to do one thing and I do the opposite.
I can't keep telling my kids to do one thing and then me do another.
And we've earned the right to do one thing, and that is live our truth.
Catena proudly said that their main aim when they started the franchise business was to do one thing completely.
Fine, but as your friend, I'm going to beg you to do one thing.
However, if you wish to continue to do so, I must ask you to do one thing.
It's like my brain is telling me to do one thing and my heart another and...
I was created to do one thing, Tony.
I ask you to do one thing, just one thing, and you screw it up.
The Doctor doesn't think it's harmless that while you're on the job, while he's paying you to do one thing, you're actually doing another.

Alternatives:

to do a single thing
to choose one action
to perform a specific task
to accomplish one goal

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to do a thing vs to do one thing

"to do a thing"

"to do one thing"

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