in doing that

USAGE SUMMARY

"in doing that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a particular activity that has already been mentioned or is easily identifiable. For example: "John tried to achieve success in his career by taking risks; in doing that, he managed to grow his business significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I succeeded very well in doing that".

The New York Times

I wasn't interested in doing that".

The New York Times - Arts

And what's the point in doing that?

The Guardian

In doing that, he bucked a trend.

The New York Times

In doing that, they overreached themselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

He's a monster in doing that".

The New York Times - Sports

"Is there something wrong in doing that?

The Guardian

"I have no interest in doing that".

The New York Times

What was the foreign policy goal in doing that?

University of California, Berkeley

And in doing that, then those are added up.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And I wasn't interested in doing that type of farming.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in doing that" to clearly link an action with its immediate consequence or a related circumstance. Ensure the connection between the action and outcome is evident to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "in doing that" when the action being referred to is ambiguous or hasn't been explicitly stated. Always make sure the reader can easily identify the action you're referencing to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in doing that" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves as an adverbial, modifying a verb or clause by indicating a consequence, result, or accompanying circumstance. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and widely used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

22%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in doing that" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to connect an action with its consequence or related circumstance. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific writing. Alternatives such as "thereby", "in so doing", and "by doing so" can be used to add variety to your writing, although "in doing that" maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal settings. Remembering to ensure a clear antecedent action will prevent ambiguity and enhance the clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by doing so

Indicates the method by which something is achieved.

in so doing

A more formal variant with essentially the same meaning.

by this action

Highlights an immediate previous action.

thereby

Expresses a direct consequence or result of the action.

as a result of that

Clearly states the cause-and-effect relationship.

through that action

Emphasizes the specific action leading to the outcome.

by that means

Focuses on the method or instrument used.

in that way

Highlights the manner in which the action is performed.

consequently

A direct adverbial equivalent, showing result.

in consequence

A more formal expression of resulting outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "in doing that" in a sentence?

Use "in doing that" to connect an action with its consequence or a related circumstance. For example: "The company invested heavily in research and development; "in doing that", it created several innovative products."

What are some alternatives to "in doing that"?

You can use alternatives like "thereby", "in so doing", or "by doing so", depending on the context.

Is "in doing that" formal or informal?

"In doing that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "thereby" or "in so doing" might be preferred in more formal writing.

What's the difference between "in doing that" and "by doing that"?

"In doing that" emphasizes the consequence or accompanying circumstance, while "by doing that" emphasizes the method or means through which something is achieved. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the result or the process.