in so doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"in so doing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe the act of performing an action that was mentioned previously in a sentence or conversation. For example, "I decided to take the job, in so doing setting aside my personal goals for the time being."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And, in so doing, be helped myself.

The New York Times

In so doing, they raise a question.

Independent

In so doing, they became extremely wealthy.

The Guardian - Books

In so doing, the International board Inc.

Harvard University

In so doing, it changed the dialog.

Harvard Business Review

And in so doing, Harry found love.

The Guardian - Film

In so doing, it can hasten death.

The New York Times - Health

In so doing, it becomes possible to directly determine the atmospheric density along the orbit.

Advances in Space Research

In so doing we analyse the effect that such damping has on Bryan's effect.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

In so doing, the Warburg model is revisited and its limitations and assumptions are scrutinized.

Electrochimica Acta

In so doing, the generic OBR formulation separates accuracy considerations from the enforcement of physical properties.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in so doing" to create a smooth transition between an action and its direct consequence. It helps to avoid repetition and makes the writing more concise.

Common error

Ensure that the consequence you introduce with "in so doing" directly and logically follows from the previously mentioned action. Avoid using it when the connection is weak or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in so doing" functions as an adverbial phrase that introduces a consequence or result directly related to a previously mentioned action. It connects two clauses, indicating that the second clause is a direct outcome of the first. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

30%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in so doing" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to connect an action with its direct consequence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While it maintains a neutral to formal register, alternatives like "thereby" and "in doing so" can be used depending on the desired tone. When using "in so doing", ensure a clear and logical connection between the action and its result to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in doing so

This alternative changes the word order slightly while maintaining the same meaning and grammatical structure.

thereby

This alternative offers a more concise way to indicate that something is a result of a previous action.

thus

This alternative is a shorter, more formal way to say "in so doing", indicating a logical consequence.

by doing that

This alternative is more explicit about the action being referenced, making it slightly less formal.

in that way

This alternative shifts the focus to the manner in which something is done, rather than the action itself.

by this action

This alternative emphasizes the specific action leading to the consequence.

as a result

This alternative directly states the consequence without explicitly mentioning the action.

consequently

This alternative provides a more formal and direct way to indicate a result or consequence.

thereupon

This alternative is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "immediately after that", implying a direct consequence.

by which means

This alternative emphasizes the method or process through which a result is achieved.

FAQs

How to use "in so doing" in a sentence?

Use "in so doing" to link an action with its direct consequence. For example, "He studied diligently, "in so doing" improving his grades significantly".

What can I say instead of "in so doing"?

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

Is "in so doing" formal or informal?

"In so doing" is generally considered a formal phrase suitable for academic, professional, and news writing. More informal alternatives exist, such as "by doing that".

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

While similar, "in so doing" emphasizes the process of achieving a result through the action, whereas "by doing so" simply indicates that the action led to the result. They are often interchangeable, but "in so doing" can add a slightly more formal tone.