doing so good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing so good" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "doing so well." Example: "She is doing so well in her new job that her manager has already praised her work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"You're doing so good.

The New York Times

Suddenly, she said, "I was taking it regularly, I was doing so good".

The New York Times

"The horse had been doing so good, and is doing so good, I don't want to screw things up," Dutrow said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Physically he is fine, but mentally he is not doing so good.

The Guardian

John Riley, a minister, testified, "I feel like I let Scott down, because Scotty was doing so good.

The New Yorker

Even in the act of doing so, good intentions may lead one down the path of error.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"You did so good," the man said.

The New York Times

You did so good, Mom said.

The New Yorker

I wanted to do so good over here.

The New York Times - Sports

"Without her I wouldn't do so good.

The New York Times

"I didn't do so good in America and Spindleruv Mlyn.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing or professional contexts, always opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "performing effectively" or "succeeding greatly" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using the adjective "good" when you need an adverb to modify a verb. Remember that adverbs like "well" describe how an action is performed, while adjectives describe nouns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing so good" typically functions as part of a larger sentence, expressing a positive assessment of someone's actions or performance. However, it's grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct expression is "doing so well."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

6.666666666666667%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6.666666666666667%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doing so good" is often used to express positive sentiment about someone's performance but is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Ludwig AI suggests the proper form is "doing so well". While "doing so good" appears in some informal contexts, such as news media and online forums, it's best to use "doing so well" or other alternatives like performing effectively or succeeding greatly in more formal settings to maintain clarity and credibility. Remember to use adverbs (like "well") to modify verbs (like "doing").

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing so well

Replaces the adjective "good" with the adverb "well" to correct the grammatical structure when describing the action of doing.

performing so well

Substitutes "doing" with "performing" to emphasize the act of carrying out a task effectively, while maintaining grammatical correctness.

succeeding so well

Replaces "doing" with "succeeding" to indicate achievement and positive outcomes, keeping the adverb "well".

progressing so well

Emphasizes advancement and development, replacing "doing" with "progressing" and maintaining the correct adverbial form.

faring so well

Uses "faring" instead of "doing" to suggest how someone is getting on or managing in a particular situation, using the correct adverb.

managing so well

Focuses on the ability to handle tasks or situations effectively, swapping "doing" for "managing" and keeping the adverb "well".

accomplishing so much

Shifts the focus to completed tasks and achievements, replacing "doing" with "accomplishing" and using "much" to quantify the achievements.

excelling so greatly

Highlights exceptional performance and skill, changing "doing" to "excelling" and using the adverb "greatly" for emphasis.

thriving so wonderfully

Indicates flourishing and positive growth, substituting "doing" with "thriving" and using the adverb "wonderfully" to express delight.

prospering considerably

Emphasizes success and wealth, replacing "doing" with "prospering" and modifying the degree with "considerably".

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone is performing admirably?

The correct phrase is "doing so well". Using "well" instead of "good" ensures proper grammar, as "well" is an adverb modifying the verb "doing".

Is "doing so good" ever acceptable in writing?

While you might encounter "doing so good" in informal speech, it's not considered standard English. For professional or academic writing, always use "doing so well" or a similar grammatically correct phrase.

What are some alternatives to "doing so good" that sound more formal?

For formal contexts, consider using phrases like "performing effectively", "succeeding greatly", or "excelling considerably". These options provide a polished and professional tone.

How can I remember the difference between "good" and "well"?

"Good" is an adjective used to describe nouns (e.g., "a good book"), while "well" is an adverb used to describe verbs (e.g., "He plays well"). In the phrase, you're describing how someone is doing, so "doing so well" is the correct choice.