There Is No Point In Doing vs. There Is No Point To Do
Cambridge directly documents no point (in doing something) for saying that an action has no useful purpose. The cited purpose expression does not establish there is no point to + infinitive as a parallel complement. Other uses of point can take different structures, so keep this guide scoped to the no-point expression.
Use there is no point in + -ing, or the documented no point + -ing variant, when saying an activity would serve no useful purpose.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Intended meaning | Pattern | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| an activity has no useful purpose | there is no point in + -ing | Use the directly documented construction. |
| same purpose judgment in a shorter form | no point + -ing | The reviewed source also documents this variant. |
| assume a parallel infinitive after this expression | there is no point to + verb | Do not infer it from the cited construction. |
Quick tests
No-useful-purpose test
Are you saying that carrying out the activity would serve no useful purpose?
If yes: Use “there is no point in + -ing” (or the documented shorter no-point + -ing form).
If no: If “point” has a different meaning, use the construction required by that meaning.
Caveat: This guide is scoped to the no-useful-purpose expression; it does not prohibit every unrelated “point + to” sequence.
Examples
There is no point in arguing about a closed issue.
The -ing clause names the activity judged pointless.
There is no point in waiting after the office has closed.
“In + -ing” follows the documented purpose expression.
No point checking the old link again.
The shorter documented no-point + -ing variant expresses the same judgment.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited purpose expression does not establish there is no point to + infinitive as a parallel complement. Other uses of point can take different structures, so keep this guide scoped to the no-point expression.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents no point (in doing something) for saying that an action has no useful purpose.
Decision
Use there is no point in + -ing, or the documented no point + -ing variant, when saying an activity would serve no useful purpose.
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.
- point (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Preferred lexical authority directly documenting no point (in doing something).