doing more than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing more than expected" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone exceeds anticipated performance or effort. For example, "She was praised for doing more than expected in her project." Alternative expressions include "going above and beyond," "exceeding expectations," and "surpassing what was anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By doing more than expected, I completed the program in three months — nine months early — and was promoted to assistant account executive.

The New York Times

From preschool through college, it's all about sitting still, coloring within the lines, doing more than expected, trying to please teacher.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Still, it wouldn't kill you to watch it, and it does more than expected to reinvent its particular wheel.

The Guardian - Film

Duda has done more than expected, but Bay has just returned from a rib injury and has not supplied his share of power since signing with the Mets after the 2009 season.

The New York Times - Sports

His advice to young people: "Love what you do, work hard, always do more than expected and never be angry if someone else has something that others feel you deserve".

The New York Times

"He was making chicken feed, but he loved it". Mueller was known among those closest to him as a man with a strong moral compass and a desire always to do more than expected.

The Washington Post

We did more than expected today and caught up on the programme".

BBC

Discretionary effort is the percentage of employees working for each leader who were willing to go the extra mile and do more than expected.

Forbes

After a good sleep, I can do more than expected.

Huffington Post

Do more than expected of you.

WikiHow

She's then soldiered on to the next one, baring her body, soul, and comic chops the very definition of an actor doing more than anyone expects, whether it matters or not.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, consider pairing it with specific data to anchor the 'more' in measurable outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using redundant intensifiers like 'doing even more than expected' unless the subject had already surpassed a previous goal. The phrase itself already implies a high level of performance.

Linguistic Context

In linguistic contexts provided by Ludwig, "doing more than expected" acts as a gerund phrase that typically functions as the object of a preposition or a subject within a sentence. It describes an action where the intensity or volume of work exceeds a predefined threshold.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

6%

Academia

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doing more than expected" is a robust and grammatically correct English phrase that effectively communicates high effort and initiative. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely accepted and used in high-authority publications like The New York Times and the BBC to describe everything from corporate performance to athletic drive. While it appears less frequently as an exact string than its idiomatic cousin "going above and beyond", it remains a versatile choice for professional writing, academic commentary, and instructional content. It is particularly useful when the writer wants to emphasize that a specific threshold of anticipation has been crossed without using overly flowery language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going above and beyond

Uses a spatial metaphor to emphasize significant extra effort

exceeding expectations

A more formal, business-oriented version of the same sentiment

surpassing what was anticipated

More descriptive and slightly more formal in structure

overdelivering on results

Focuses specifically on output and tangible deliverables

going the extra mile

An idiomatic expression for making an additional effort

outperforming the brief

Used specifically in creative or project-based professional contexts

surpassing requirements

Focuses on meeting and then beating a set of fixed standards

putting in extra effort

More literal and focuses on the labor involved

exceeding the baseline

More technical or data-focused in its connotations

stretching the limits

Implies testing the boundaries of what is possible

FAQs

How to use "doing more than expected" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a proactive person, such as in "She was promoted for "doing more than expected" on the project".

What can I say instead of "doing more than expected"?

You can use idioms like "going above and beyond" or more formal terms like "exceeding expectations".

Is it professional to use "doing more than expected" in a resume?

Yes, it is professional, though "surpassed targets" or "exceeded expectations" are often preferred for their brevity.

What is the difference between "doing more than expected" and "going above and beyond"?

While both mean the same thing, "going above and beyond" is more common as a fixed idiom, whereas "doing more than expected" is more descriptive.