by doing what

USAGE SUMMARY

"by doing what" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to ask for clarification or to express confusion about a particular action or task. Example: "I don't understand how we're supposed to clean the whole house by tomorrow. By doing what exactly?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Q: By doing what?

The New York Times

By doing what?

The Economist

By doing what, exactly?

The New York Times - Books

By doing what they do — play intelligently.

The New York Times - Sports

I exercise by doing what I like to do.

The New Yorker

I began by doing what any writer would do.

Yale University

We were winning by doing what we were doing.

The New York Times - Sports

Emily Post became Emily Post by doing what Emily Post advised.

The New Yorker

I thought they made a great decision by doing what they did.

Independent

It's an attempt to teach "intelligent design," by doing what clever creationists call "teaching the controversy".

The New Yorker

They give us the message that they can get around it by doing what they want".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by doing what" to prompt clarification when a course of action is unclear. It directly seeks specific details about the method being employed.

Common error

Ensure the context surrounding "by doing what" provides sufficient information for the question to be understood. Avoid using it in isolation without a clear preceding statement or situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by doing what" functions as an interrogative phrase, specifically used to seek clarification or further detail regarding a previously mentioned action or plan. It prompts for the method or process involved. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by doing what" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that acts as an interrogative, prompting clarification or detailed explanation about a proposed action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, although it may lean towards informality in certain professional settings. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sources, the phrase serves to uncover the specifics of an action, addressing potential ambiguities. Related phrases, such as "how can that be done" or "by what means", offer more formal alternatives, while being careful to avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient context enhances its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how so

Asks for explanation or clarification.

how can that be done

Focuses on the method of accomplishment, emphasizing feasibility.

how is that achieved

Centers on the achievement of a particular result and the steps involved.

by what means

Highlights the tools or resources utilized in achieving a specific outcome.

in what manner

Emphasizes the style or way something is done.

using what method

Highlights the methodology employed.

by what process

Focuses on the step-by-step series of actions taken.

through which actions

Emphasizes the specific actions taken to reach a goal.

through which channels

Highlights the means of communication or distribution employed.

via what route

Emphasizes the pathway or direction taken to achieve a goal.

FAQs

How can I use "by doing what" in a sentence?

Use "by doing what" to ask for clarification or more details about an action. For example, "They plan to improve customer service. By doing what, exactly?"

What's a more formal alternative to "by doing what"?

In more formal settings, you might use phrases like "through which actions?" or "by what means?" to convey a similar request for clarification.

Is it ever incorrect to use "by doing what"?

While grammatically correct, "by doing what" may sound informal in certain contexts. Consider your audience and the overall tone when deciding whether to use this phrase.

How does the meaning of "by doing what" differ from "how so"?

"By doing what" specifically asks about the method or actions involved, whereas "how so" is a more general request for explanation or justification.