Is Doing Well vs. Are Doing Well – Which is Correct?
“Is doing well” and “are doing well” are both correct. Use “is doing well” with a singular subject, such as he, she, it, or one person’s name. Use “are doing well” with a plural subject, such as they, we, or multiple people. The subject determines the verb in every sentence.
Is Doing Well or Are Doing Well – Which Is Correct?
Both “is doing well” and “are doing well” are grammatically correct. The choice depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use “is doing well” with singular subjects, including he, she, it, and singular nouns. Use “are doing well” with plural subjects, including we, you, they, and plural nouns.
The phrase doing well means performing successfully, remaining healthy, or experiencing satisfactory progress. The helping verb changes to agree with the subject.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-versus-more test: if the subject refers to one person, animal, object, or idea, choose is. If it refers to two or more, choose are. Remember the pattern: He is, but They are.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is doing well | Verb phrase | Shows that one subject is progressing successfully or remaining healthy | Maria is doing well in her new role. |
| are doing well | Verb phrase | Shows that multiple subjects, or the pronoun you, are progressing successfully or remaining healthy | The students are doing well this semester. |
How to Use Is Doing Well
Use “is doing well” when the subject is singular. Common singular subjects include he, she, it, a person’s name, and singular nouns such as the company, the patient, or the project. The phrase can describe health, academic performance, business results, emotional progress, or general circumstances.
This expression is natural in both casual and formal English. In professional writing, it is often followed by a phrase explaining the area of success, such as in school, at work, or after the treatment.
Example 1: Daniel is doing well in his advanced mathematics course.
Example 2: The patient is doing well after the procedure.
Example 3: The small business is doing well despite the challenging economy.
What Are the Different Forms of Is Doing Well?
The phrase combines a form of the verb be with the present participle doing and the adverb well. In the present progressive tense, use is doing well with singular third-person subjects: She is doing well.
Other forms include was doing well for the past, has been doing well for an action continuing from the past to the present, and will be doing well for the future. In questions, place is before the subject: Is your brother doing well?
Etymology of the Phrase Is Doing Well
The phrase is built from several old English elements. Is comes from forms of the Old English verb bēon, meaning “to be.” Doing comes from the Old English verb dōn, meaning “to perform” or “to make.” Well developed from Old English wel, meaning “in a good manner” or “properly.”
How to Use Are Doing Well
Use “are doing well” with plural subjects and with the pronoun you. Appropriate plural subjects include they, we, the employees, and the children. The phrase may describe successful performance, good health, emotional recovery, or favorable development.
Although you can refer to one person or several people, it always takes are in standard English: You are doing well. This form works in casual conversation, encouraging feedback, medical updates, workplace reports, and academic comments.
Example 1: The new employees are doing well during their training.
Example 2: You are doing well with your pronunciation practice.
Example 3: We are doing well after moving to the new office.
What Are the Different Forms of Are Doing Well?
Are doing well is the present progressive form used with you, we, and plural subjects. The past form is were doing well, as in They were doing well before the injury. The present perfect form is have been doing well, as in We have been doing well this quarter.
For questions, invert the helping verb and subject: Are they doing well? For negatives, add not: They are not doing well. In informal speech and writing, are not may contract to aren’t.
Etymology of the Phrase Are Doing Well
Are is a present-tense form of the irregular Old English verb related to be. Doing comes from Old English dōn, while well comes from Old English wel. Together, the words express that plural subjects or the listener are performing or progressing in a satisfactory way.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject–verb agreement and the present progressive tense makes the difference between these phrases easy to identify.
- Subject–verb agreement: A verb must match its subject in number. Singular subjects generally take is, while plural subjects take are.
- Present progressive tense: This tense uses a form of be plus a present participle, such as is doing or are doing, to describe an ongoing action or situation.
- Singular and plural nouns: A singular noun identifies one person or thing, while a plural noun identifies more than one. This distinction controls whether the phrase begins with is or are.
- The pronoun you: You takes are whether it refers to one person or multiple people.
Examples from Media and Literature
These examples reflect the kinds of sentences commonly found in news reporting, interviews, fiction, and public communication:
- News reporting: “The local economy is doing well, according to the latest employment figures.” The singular subject economy requires is.
- Sports coverage: “The team’s young players are doing well under the new coach.” The plural subject players requires are.
- Health reporting: “The actor is doing well after recovering from the illness.” The singular subject actor takes is.
- Fictional dialogue: “You are doing well,” the teacher said, encouraging the student. The pronoun you always takes are.
- Family-centered storytelling: “The children are doing well in their new home.” The plural subject children takes are.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: is doing well or are doing well.
- My sister ______ in her new position.
- The volunteers ______ at the community center.
- The dog ______ after its operation.
- You ______ with the grammar exercises.
- The company’s sales team ______ this quarter.
Answer Key
- is doing well — My sister is singular.
- are doing well — The volunteers is plural.
- is doing well — The dog is singular.
- are doing well — You always takes are.
- is doing well — The company’s sales team is treated as one singular team.
Is Doing Well Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Progressing well | Moving forward successfully toward a goal |
| Thriving | Growing, developing, or performing very successfully |
| Doing fine | Managing adequately or satisfactorily; generally casual |
| Recovering well | Returning to health successfully after an illness or injury |
Are Doing Well Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Progressing successfully | Advancing or improving in a positive way |
| Thriving | Performing exceptionally well or developing strongly |
| Doing fine | Managing adequately or satisfactorily |
| Holding up well | Continuing to cope successfully with a difficult situation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “she are doing well”?
No. The correct form is she is doing well because she is a singular subject.
Question 2: Is “they is doing well” correct?
No. Use they are doing well because they is a plural pronoun in standard subject–verb agreement.
Question 3: Should I say “you is doing well” or “you are doing well”?
The correct expression is you are doing well. The pronoun you always takes are, whether it refers to one person or several people.
Question 4: What is the difference between “doing good” and “doing well”?
Doing well usually describes successful performance, health, or progress. Doing good traditionally means helping others or performing charitable actions, although informal speakers sometimes use it to mean doing well.
Conclusion
Is doing well and are doing well are both correct expressions. Choose is for singular subjects and are for plural subjects or you. Pro Tip: Correct subject–verb agreement strengthens your professional reputation by making emails, reports, and applications sound polished and reliable.
