is what do I do a grammatically correct question to ask someone?

Question

Is the question
what do I do
grammatically correct?

I am creating a list of frequently asked questions for a project. One question that I will list goes......what do I do if or when....

Maybe i can use what should i do but i already have 200 faq handouts made, but the question what do i do keeps bothering me..

Your help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes, absolutely. The first do is an auxiliary verb and indicates a question in the present simple. The second do is the main verb.



Like What do I say? Where do I go? What do I do if ....?

What should I do is asking for advice, what do I do would be asking for instructions.



Having the full question would be a help because it possibly doesn't indicate what you want to say.

Answer 2

"What do I do" is usually found when the speaker is rather despaiing and in trouble. For instance: "Somebody has stolen all my money, what do I do?" (Meaning "How can I survive until I have made an insurance claim and got some money back - I need cash now for food")



So you can say that "What do I do?" is grammatically correct, but its usage is specialised. Personally I would not put into a list of frequently used expressions.



Many questions on this site about "grammar" are really about "usage", since many expressions are grammatical (maybe old-fashioned or of specialised use), but not in everday use in normal British English.



I am a 67-year-old Britsh male.

Answer 3

Ok. Thank you all forward your expertise.

Answer 4

What do I do is correct, but a better way of saying this is "what should I do" instead. The meaning is the same, but it sounds much more better.

Answer 5

I don't know... is it?

Answer 6

"What do I do..." is fine for conversational/informal writing.

Answer 7

Correct!