Just Googling it?

Question

Today in class a student was reading the title of an article for group discussion: "Just googling it is bad for your brain." http://qz.com/519155/just-googling-it-is-bad-for-your-brain/\n\nThe student read it thus: "Just googling....it is bad for your brain."\n\nSeveral students looked up at me, then one said "Teacher, should we read this without making the break?"\n\nI responded, "That's how I would read it, but perhaps there is another interpretation. Let me find out."\n\nWhat kind of expression is "googling it."? I want to say that this is a kind of imperative but imperatives don't usually use the "ing" form. "Just do it." *"just doing it." But "(You) Just googling it is bad for your brain." doesn't sound incorrect to my ear.\n\nTo me it makes sense that "Just googling it" is a complete subject and that "is bad for your brain" is the complete predicate. But in speech, one could break the sentence with a pause and say "Just Googling...it's bad for your brain." (sounds like an advertising slogan.)\n\nMy questions: 1) What kind of expression is "googling it," and how is it being used in the sentence, and 2) Can the sentence be split into two as the student did? (I know; in speech you can say whatever you want but that's not the spirit of the question.)

Answer 1

1. "Just googling it" is a set phrase using the gerund form "googling." I would say that "just googling it" has a specific connotation in English. It implies that someone has given up or taken the easy way out, rather than figuring a problem out for themselves.
2. To use the example presented in the article: When asked a question, you could use your memory and critical thinking skills to figure out the answer, or you could take the easy way out and "just google it."
3. Used in a sentence: "'Just googling it' can be a harmful practice for language learners because it inhibits vocabulary retention."
4. It's kind of an awkward phrase, really, but that's how the author of this article is using it!
5. I don't think it's correct to split the phrase as your student did. This is partially because it is an incomplete usage of the expression "just googling it" as discussed above. But it's also because "to google" doesn't really function as an intransitive verb. It requires a direct object. In other words, a person does not "google"; they "google [something]."
6. Incorrect/nonsensical: "I spent the whole afternoon googling."
7. Correct/makes sense: "I spent the whole afternoon googling recipes for dinner."

I hope this helps!