Own Up To Doing vs. Own Up To Do
Oxford documents own up to something/to doing something for admitting responsibility or admitting that one did something. The to in own up to introduces the admitted matter and supports an -ing complement; it is not evidence for a parallel to-infinitive pattern.
Use own up to + -ing when admitting an action.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| admit responsibility for an action | own up to + -ing | Use an -ing form after “to” when the admitted matter is an action. |
| admit responsibility for a thing, mistake, or fact | own up to + noun phrase | Use a noun phrase when it names what is being admitted. |
| use a to-infinitive as though “to” marked an infinitive | own up to do | Do not use this as the parallel complement for the admission sense. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does the complement name the action someone is admitting?
If yes: Use “own up to” plus the -ing form.
If no: If the admitted matter is a noun, use “own up to” plus that noun phrase; do not treat the “to” as an infinitive marker.
Caveat: This guidance concerns the “admit” construction “own up to …”. The word “to” belongs to that construction and does not license a parallel “own up to do” infinitive pattern.
Examples
He owned up to breaking the vase.
The -ing clause names the action he admitted.
She owned up to the mistake.
A noun phrase can name the matter admitted.
They finally owned up to hiding the documents.
The action after the preposition “to” is expressed with an -ing form.
Further guidance
Boundary
The to in own up to introduces the admitted matter and supports an -ing complement; it is not evidence for a parallel to-infinitive pattern.
Construction
Oxford documents own up to something/to doing something for admitting responsibility or admitting that one did something.
Decision
Use own up to + -ing when admitting an action.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- own up (opens in a new tab)Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries · Preferred lexical authority directly documenting own up to doing something.