Other Ways to Say “To Do So”

The phrase “to do so” is commonly used to refer back to a previously mentioned action, but there are many other ways to express the same idea more naturally, formally, or creatively depending on context.

Alternative Phrases for “To Do So”

• In order to achieve that – Suitable for formal or goal-oriented contexts.
• To accomplish that – Ideal for professional or academic writing.
• For that purpose – Polished and appropriate for presentations.
• To make that happen – Conversational and motivational.
• Accordingly – Useful in more formal or logical sequences.
• To that end – A sophisticated way to indicate purpose or intention.
• As such – Works well when drawing conclusions from previous actions.
• In doing so – Slight variation that implies the process rather than the result.
• Thus – Often used in academic or formal arguments.
• With that in mind – Good for reflective or strategic contexts.

Examples in Context

Original Sentence	Alternative
She studied hard and sacrificed her weekends to do so.	She studied hard and sacrificed her weekends to achieve that.
The company needed to reduce costs, and it laid off staff to do so.	The company needed to reduce costs, and it laid off staff to that end.
He volunteered extra hours every week to do so.	He volunteered extra hours every week to make that happen.

When to Use Alternatives

Choosing an alternative to “to do so” depends on tone, audience, and sentence structure. For formal writing, opt for phrases like to accomplish that or to that end. For everyday speech or casual writing, expressions such as to make that happen or with that in mind can sound more natural and engaging.

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