9 Synonyms for “To Do So”

Are you trying to explain how to complete a task or do something?

Perhaps you’re thinking of using “to do so,” but you’re worried it’s not the best formal choice.

Luckily, you have options!

This article will explain how to say “to do so” professionally to help you with different situations.

Is It Formal to Say “To Do So”?

It is not formal to say “to do so.” Generally, people use it when they want to explain how to complete something, but it’s not the best choice to use in formal emails.

Don’t get us wrong; it’s still correct. It’s a verb phrase (not a prepositional phrase) that shows someone what needs to be done. But it’s best to use in more casual contexts.

So, here’s an informal email sample to show you how to use it:

Hey Martin,

It’s time we started looking into this project together!

I’ve provided you with some of the tools to do so.

Best wishes,
Samantha Ryder

Pros

  • It’s a decent way to recommend ways to complete a task.
  • It’s direct and informative.

Cons

  • It’s not formal enough to use in most business cases.
  • It’s a bit rushed and repetitive.

Of course, “to do so” isn’t the best phrase to use in formal writing. Therefore, it’s time to look into some alternatives to see what might work a bit better.

So, keep reading to learn what to use instead of “to do so.” We’ve gathered a list of all the best synonyms to give you a better idea of what to do in your writing.

What to Say Instead of “To Do So”

  • To accomplish that
  • To complete this
  • In so doing
  • In this manner
  • To help with this
  • For this to work
  • To that end
  • In order to
  • To achieve this

1. To Accomplish That

Let’s start with “to accomplish that.” To be fair, this is a useful synonym for “to do so” that works quite well in a professional email.

So, you can use it in most business contexts when you’d like to instruct someone on how to do something.

Generally, it’s a good option when contacting an employee. You might have given them a list of tasks to complete, or you might have an end goal in mind for them.

Whatever the case, this phrase works well to let them know you have a clear goal and plan in mind.

It’s informative and direct. So, employees will be happy to receive something like this and learn more about what you expect from them.

Also, you can check out this email sample to learn a bit more about it:

Dear Michelle,

This is a great idea, and I have attached a file explaining how to accomplish that.

Please let me know if you need further information about anything.

Yours,
Georgia Smash

2. To Complete This

Feel free to write “to complete this” in academic papers to mix things up. This is a great formal synonym for “to do so” that works best when writing essays to explain something.

Academic writing benefits from phrases like this because it’s easy for the reader to follow.

It’s engaging and direct. So, it’s an excellent opportunity to list things that will make sense to the reader to show them how well you grasp a situation and what’s expected of you.

For the most part, it keeps things professional and sincere. That’s what makes it stand out when writing most essays or papers.

These examples will also clear some things up for you:

We have gathered a list of alternatives to complete this. Therefore, it’s worth exploring each one to learn more.

To complete this, I think it’s worth branching out. Otherwise, there will never be a suitable solution to the obvious problem.

3. In So Doing

We think it’s worth using “in so doing” as another way to say “to do so” as well.

This time, it’s more formal and informative. So, it’s an excellent way to explain how someone will achieve something if they’re unsure how to go about it.

Try using it when contacting a client. It allows you to be more direct when explaining a situation, which will help them to understand what might be expected of them.

For the most part, clients will appreciate the directness of this phrase. That’s what helps it to be so informative and useful.

Here’s a helpful example to show you more if you’re still confused:

Dear Miss Anderson,

This is what we will attempt to achieve.

In so doing, we should be able to explore this situation more before continuing.

Yours,
Carla Sides

4. In This Manner

Next, we recommend using “in this manner” as a formal way to say “to do so.” It’s a great synonym that works well in academic writing when you want to branch out.

Generally, this is an effective way to engage a reader and show them you know what you’re talking about.

It explains how a situation might lead to another. It also shows that you’ve explored an idea that might help one thing lead on from the previous subject, which is good information for a reader.

So, you can use it to impress a teacher. If they’re reading your academic paper, this is a good option to include a few times to show you know how to link your thoughts and ideas.

You can review these examples if you still need help understanding it:

In this manner, we need to venture further into the ideas. Otherwise, most of this research will prove to be irrelevant.

In this manner, there are some situations that must be considered. I will speak about them in more detail later.

5. To Help With This

You can also write “to help with this” when trying to mix things up.

It shows you’ve thought about specific ways to complete something. So, you can include it in an essay to show the reader what they can use to help them understand a situation.

We highly recommend using this to keep things direct and informative.

It’s an effective choice that lets everyone know what you’re trying to talk about.

Here are some examples to show you more about it:

To help with this, I will go over the valuable points of conduct. Then, it’ll be clear what we must do to continue.

I have gone through each variable to help with this. Hopefully, this makes it more obvious what I’m trying to achieve.

6. For This to Work

We also recommend using “for this to work.” This is an informative and professional way to let someone know how to complete a task.

So, you can use this when contacting an employee. It shows you’ve thought things through and have figured out the best course of action to help them understand how to complete something.

Generally, you can use it to show you’re in control of a situation. It’s confident and sincere, which goes a long way when employees need to rely on your knowledge.

Here’s a great email sample to show you a bit more about it:

Dear Tony,

For this to work, I have compiled a list of the best things to do.

Please review it and start working towards them to ensure a fruitful outcome.

Yours,
Jon Young

7. To That End

You can also use “to that end” instead of “to do so.” This is a great alternative that remains professional and sincere in your writing.

It works quite well in academic situations. So, you can use it in an essay when explaining how one thing can lead to another or create a specific situation.

It’s informative and easy to read. So, readers will appreciate you using something like this in your writing.

Here are some examples to help you understand more about it:

To that end, it’s worth going over the following points to learn a bit more. Therefore, I will establish the ideas now.

To that end, here is a list of all the things needed to complete this task. I intend to get it done next time.

8. In Order To

While it’s a bit wordy, “in order to” is a great phrase to use in a formal email.

Sometimes, people prefer using “to” on its own. However, “in order to” works well as a synonym here because it shows that you’re explaining how one thing can cause another to happen.

It works best when contacting a customer. Generally, you can use it when providing them with a solution to their problem or query.

Here’s a helpful email sample to also show you how to use it:

Dear Miss Parkinson,

We have attached a file in order to show you what you need to do next.

Please review it and let us know if you have further questions.

Best wishes,
Joan Remedy

9. To Achieve This

Finally, you can use “to achieve this.” It’s informative and direct, showing readers what they need to do to complete a task.

That’s why it works well when in an essay. It’s a quick way to let the reader know what they have to do to ensure something takes place.

It also remains formal and professional. That’s why it’s quite a versatile choice in most written cases.

Here are some examples to show you a bit more about it:

To achieve this, I have explored the different outcomes multiple times. I’m sure we’re on to something big.

To achieve this, I have gotten a team together. It’s certainly not something that can be achieved solo.