Eliminating things forever (Do away with)
Do away with implies deliberate, permanent elimination, adding C1 flair to your removal vocabulary.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'do away with' to describe the permanent removal or abolition of a system, rule, or object.
- Always keep 'do', 'away', and 'with' together in that specific order.
- It is an inseparable phrasal verb; the object must follow 'with'.
- Conjugate only the verb 'do' (did, done, doing) while keeping the particles fixed.
Overview
Do away with means to stop something forever. It is for big things.
People stop bad habits. Governments stop old laws. It is a strong action.
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
The committee |
They do away with inefficient processes every quarter.
The previous administration did away with several environmental regulations.
We have done away with the old paper-based filing system.
The new software will do away with the need for manual data entry.
When To Use It
- Abolishing policies, rules, or systems: Use
do away withfor formal or semi-formal discussions concerning the official repeal or discontinuation of established norms. The university aims to do away with mandatory in-person attendance for all graduate seminars.Many believe it's time to do away with the two-party political system.- Eliminating significant problems, obstacles, or undesirable conditions: This usage emphasizes eradication and resolution, often implying a proactive and determined effort.
To achieve true equity, society must do away with systemic discrimination.Scientists hope to do away with the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.- Ending deeply ingrained habits, practices, or traditions: When referring to personal or collective behaviors that are being definitively stopped. This suggests a strong commitment to change.
After years of procrastination, she finally decided to do away with her habit of leaving assignments until the last minute.The community voted to do away with the outdated tradition of public whipping.- Destroying physical objects (with emphasis on complete removal): While less common than for abstract concepts, it can be used when the destruction is absolute and intended to remove the item from existence, particularly when a simpler verb like
destroyfeels insufficient for the context. The old factory was unsafe, so they decided to do away with the entire structure.To prevent corporate espionage, all sensitive documents were done away with after the merger.
do away with enhances the gravity and decisiveness of your statement, aligning with the communication demands of C1 English.When Not To Use It
- For simple, temporary disposal or temporary removal: If an item is merely being discarded or put aside,
do away withis overly formal and implies an unnecessary level of finality. - Incorrect:
I need to do away with this empty coffee cup.(Usethrow awayordispose of.) - Incorrect:
She's doing away with her summer clothes until next year.(Useput awayorstore.) - When the removal is accidental or unintentional: The phrase inherently implies a deliberate, conscious action.
- Incorrect:
I accidentally did away with my car keys.(Uselostormisplaced.) - For minor inconveniences or trivial issues: Applying
do away withto insignificant matters creates an overly dramatic or melodramatic tone. - Incorrect:
My computer keeps freezing; I wish I could do away with this minor glitch.(Usefixorresolve.) - When the object is meant to be replaced, not permanently abolished: If the intention is to upgrade or substitute, rather than eliminate entirely, a different verb is required.
- Incorrect:
The company is doing away with its old software by installing a new version.(Usereplacingorupgrading.) - When referring to killing a person (unless in a very specific, dark, and informal context, generally to be avoided): While colloquially
do away with someonecan imply murder, this usage is highly sensitive, often taboo, and should be universally avoided in academic or professional writing and most social interactions. It lacks the precision of terms likemurderorkilland carries a dangerous ambiguity. - Avoid:
The gangster decided to do away with his rival.(Usemurderorassassinatefor clarity and appropriate tone.)
Common Mistakes
- Separating the components (
dofromaway with): This is the most prevalent error.Away withacts as a cohesive unit and must directly follow the conjugated form ofdo. The object always comes after the entire phrasal verb. - Incorrect:
The government did the old laws away with. - Correct:
The government did away with the old laws. - Incorrect:
She wants to do her bad habits away with. - Correct:
She wants to do away with her bad habits. - Linguistic Principle: Phrasal verbs with an inseparable particle and preposition (verb + particle + preposition) cannot have the object inserted between the particle and preposition.
Away withfunctions as a single lexical item in this construction.
- Using incorrect prepositions: Learners sometimes substitute
withwith other prepositions due to confusion with other phrases. - Incorrect:
They plan to do away of the problem. - Correct:
They plan to do away with the problem. - Incorrect:
We must do away by those regulations. - Correct:
We must do away with those regulations. - Linguistic Principle: The
withindo away withis intrinsically linked to the phrasal verb's meaning of removal or abolition, not a general preposition indicating accompaniment or instrumentality.
- Overgeneralization and overuse in informal contexts: Applying
do away withto trivial or transient situations can make your language sound stilted, overly formal, or even melodramatic. - Incorrect (overly dramatic for casual context):
I did away with my empty plate after dinner.(A simpleI cleared my plateorI finished my mealis more natural.) - Linguistic Principle: Registers of formality are crucial in C1 English. While
do away withis mid-to-formal, its impact is diluted when used for mundane actions, suggesting a lack of sensitivity to appropriate lexical choice.
- Incorrect conjugation of
door attempting to conjugateaway with: Only the verbdoinflects for tense. - Incorrect:
He has done away withs his fears. - Correct:
He has done away with his fears. - Incorrect:
They did awayed with the policy. - Correct:
They did away with the policy. - Linguistic Principle: The verb
dois the only active verbal element in the phrasal verb; particles and prepositions are fixed.
Common Collocations
do away with a habit, do away with a custom, do away with a behavior | Suggests the determined cessation of personal or collective routines, often for self-improvement. |do away with evidence, do away with records, do away with documents | Implies the destruction of incriminating or sensitive materials, often in a covert context. (Often seen in crime fiction.) |Contrast With Similar Patterns
do away with | When to Use | Example |The new law will do away with several outdated regulations. |I need to get rid of these old newspapers. |do away with but more academic/legal.Slavery was formally abolished in the 19th century. |The company aims to eliminate waste from its production process. |discard, often used for waste management. | For waste, unwanted items, often with a sense of proper procedure.Chemical waste must be disposed of safely. |Quick FAQ
What is the primary difference between do away with and get rid of?
Use this for big problems. Use 'get rid of' for small things. It is more casual.
Can do away with be used in informal conversation?
Use this for important things. Do not use it for trash. Use it for bad habits.
Is away with ever separated from do?
Keep the three words together. Say 'do away with the system.' Do not move words.
Does do away with always imply destruction?
It does not mean breaking things. It means stopping a rule or a way of working.
How do I change the words for different times?
Only change 'do'. Use 'does' or 'did'. Keep 'away with' the same.
Is do away with someone an acceptable phrase?
Do not use this for people. It means to kill someone.
Why do we use these three words like one word?
These words work together. Learn them as one. The meaning is special.
Conjugating 'Do Away With'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I / You / We / They
|
do away with
|
the system
|
|
Present Simple
|
He / She / It
|
does away with
|
the system
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
did away with
|
the system
|
|
Present Continuous
|
They
|
are doing away with
|
the system
|
|
Present Perfect
|
We
|
have done away with
|
the system
|
|
Past Perfect
|
She
|
had done away with
|
the system
|
|
Future (Will)
|
They
|
will do away with
|
the system
|
|
Passive Voice
|
The system
|
was done away with
|
n/a
|
Contractions with 'Do Away With'
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I do not do away with
|
I don't do away with
|
I don't do away with old habits easily.
|
|
He does not do away with
|
He doesn't do away with
|
He doesn't do away with his files.
|
|
They did not do away with
|
They didn't do away with
|
They didn't do away with the law.
|
Meanings
To put an end to something, to abolish a system or regulation, or to get rid of a physical object permanently.
Abolish/Repeal
To officially end a law, rule, or social custom.
“Many people think it's time to do away with the monarchy.”
“The government is planning to do away with the current tax loopholes.”
Discard/Remove
To stop using something or to throw it away because it is no longer needed.
“We should do away with these old chairs and get some ergonomic ones.”
“The new software does away with the need for manual data entry.”
Euphemism for Murder
To kill or eliminate a person or animal (slang/informal).
“In the movie, the villain tries to do away with his partner.”
“There were rumors that the king had been done away with by his rivals.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + do/does/did + away with + Object
|
They did away with the tax.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + do/does/did + not + do away with + Object
|
We didn't do away with the rules.
|
|
Question
|
Do/Does/Did + Subject + do away with + Object?
|
Did they do away with the fee?
|
|
Passive
|
Object + was/has been + done away with
|
The fee was done away with.
|
|
Gerund
|
Doing away with + Object + is...
|
Doing away with plastic is hard.
|
|
Infinitive
|
...to do away with + Object
|
We need to do away with this.
|
Formality Spectrum
The corporation has decided to do away with the legacy software. (Technology update)
We're going to do away with the old software next month. (Technology update)
Let's do away with this glitchy app. (Technology update)
Time to bin this app for good. (Technology update)
The Scope of 'Do Away With'
Laws
- Taxes Taxes
- Regulations Regulations
Objects
- Old Furniture Old Furniture
- Paperwork Paperwork
Abstract
- Traditions Traditions
- Barriers Barriers
Synonym Strength
Can I use 'Do Away With'?
Is it a law or system?
Is it a physical object you want to discard forever?
Common Objects of 'Do Away With'
Corporate
- • Redundancy
- • Paperwork
- • Meetings
Government
- • Taxes
- • Laws
- • Visas
Examples by Level
I do away with my old pen.
Do away with the trash.
She did away with her old hat.
We do away with the rules today.
The school did away with the old books.
Are you going to do away with that old car?
He doesn't want to do away with his toys.
They did away with the small desks.
The company has done away with the afternoon break.
I think we should do away with these complicated forms.
If we do away with the middleman, we can save money.
The city did away with the old tram lines.
The new legislation aims to do away with discriminatory practices.
It's high time we did away with these outdated traditions.
The digital revolution has done away with the need for physical storage.
Many argue that we should do away with the electoral college.
The CEO's primary objective was to do away with the culture of complacency.
By streamlining the hierarchy, they effectively did away with three layers of management.
The treaty seeks to do away with all trade barriers between the two nations.
Such archaic regulations should have been done away with decades ago.
The philosophical treatise argues for doing away with the binary distinction between mind and body.
The protagonist's attempt to do away with his past only led to further psychological turmoil.
In a bold move, the central bank has done away with interest rate caps entirely.
The sheer efficiency of the new algorithm has all but done away with the latency issues we faced.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'get rid of' for everything. 'Do away with' is more for systems/rules.
Both use 'away', but 'put away' means to store something, not eliminate it.
They sound similar but 'make away with' means to steal something.
Common Mistakes
I do away the trash.
I do away with the trash.
He do away with it.
He does away with it.
Do with away the rules.
Do away with the rules.
I did away with.
I did away with it.
They are do away with it.
They are doing away with it.
We did away with the old car yesterday?
Did we do away with the old car yesterday?
She done away with her shoes.
She did away with her shoes.
The law was done away.
The law was done away with.
We should do the system away with.
We should do away with the system.
I have do away with the files.
I have done away with the files.
The necessity of the rule was done away.
The necessity of the rule was done away with.
They did away with to have a meeting.
They did away with having a meeting.
It was done away with by the committee.
It was done away with by the committee.
The CEO did away with the employees.
The CEO made the employees redundant.
Sentence Patterns
It's time to do away with ___.
The new system has effectively done away with the need for ___.
If we were to do away with ___, the consequences would be ___.
Many people argue that ___ should be done away with.
Real World Usage
The merger will do away with several redundant departments.
If elected, I promise to do away with the inheritance tax.
We must do away with single-use plastics by 2030.
The update does away with the need for a separate login.
I'm doing away with all this old furniture.
The judge ruled to do away with the previous injunction.
Think 'Abolish'
The 'With' is Mandatory
Passive Mastery
Avoid for People
Smart Tips
Use the passive form 'has been done away with' to sound more objective and professional.
Check if the verb is 'do'. If it's 'make', the meaning changes to 'steal'.
Remember the 'Triple-W' rule: do aWay With. They always go together.
Use 'do away with' to sound more determined than just saying 'quit'.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'y' in 'away' and the 'w' in 'with' often link smoothly. The 'th' in 'with' is usually unvoiced /θ/ but can be voiced /ð/ depending on the following word.
Stress
The primary stress is usually on 'away'.
Falling intonation in statements
We should do away with it. ↘
Conveys a firm decision or suggestion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
DO AWAY WITH: Delete Obsolete Anything, While You Will Improve Things Here.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant broom sweeping a pile of old, dusty law books out of a grand building and into a trash can labeled 'The Past'.
Rhyme
If the rule is old and a bit of a myth, it's time to finally do away with.
Story
A king once had a very heavy crown that made his head ache. He decided to 'do away with' the crown and wear a simple hat instead. Soon, all the other kings 'did away with' their crowns too, and everyone was much happier.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about things in your daily life you would like to 'do away with' (e.g., morning traffic, plastic bags, spam emails).
Cultural Notes
Frequently used in political discourse regarding the 'House of Lords' or 'The Monarchy'. It sounds polite but firm.
Commonly used in corporate 'lean' management to describe removing waste or unnecessary steps.
In detective novels, 'do away with' is a classic euphemism for murder, used to sound more chilling or sophisticated.
The phrase 'do away' dates back to Middle English (circa 1300), meaning to put aside or remove. The preposition 'with' was added later to specify the object being removed.
Conversation Starters
If you could do away with one law in your country, which would it be?
What is one piece of technology that the smartphone has done away with?
In your opinion, should schools do away with homework entirely?
Has your company done away with any old traditions recently?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
The government has finally _______ the outdated tax law.
Find and fix the mistake:
We should do away the old system as soon as possible.
Select the correct passive voice sentence.
The company abolished the dress code. -> The company _______ the dress code.
1. Do away with trash. 2. Do away with a law. 3. Do away with a person (meaning fire them).
A: Why is the office so empty? B: They _______ all the old filing cabinets.
with / time / it / is / to / do / away / paperwork / .
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesThe government has finally _______ the outdated tax law.
Find and fix the mistake:
We should do away the old system as soon as possible.
Select the correct passive voice sentence.
The company abolished the dress code. -> The company _______ the dress code.
1. Do away with trash. 2. Do away with a law. 3. Do away with a person (meaning fire them).
A: Why is the office so empty? B: They _______ all the old filing cabinets.
with / time / it / is / to / do / away / paperwork / .
1. Present Perfect, 2. Past Simple, 3. Continuous
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMany countries have ___ capital punishment.
The manager wants to ___ unnecessary meetings.
The protestors demanded to do the discriminatory law away with.
It's time we do away of these old habits.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
Eliminate the inefficient billing system.
The school decided to abolish uniforms.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence halves:
Match the beginnings and endings:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, you must include `with`. It is a three-part phrasal verb, and all three parts are required for the meaning to be complete.
It is neutral to formal. It is perfectly acceptable in business reports and academic essays, but also used in daily conversation.
`Abolish` is more formal and usually limited to laws or institutions. `Do away with` can be used for laws, but also for physical objects or habits.
No, `do away with` is inseparable. The object must always come after the word `with`.
Yes, in informal or slang contexts, it can be a euphemism for murder. Be careful with the context to avoid misunderstandings.
Use the form `be + done away with`. For example: 'The old regulations have been `done away with`.'
Use `did away with` for the simple past. Use `done away with` for the perfect tenses (with have/has/had).
No, it is better to use 'make redundant' or 'terminate'. Using 'do away with' for people sounds like you are killing them.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Abolir / Eliminar / Acabar con
Spanish verbs are usually single words, not three-part phrases.
Supprimer / Abolir
French lacks the 'verb + particle + preposition' structure.
Abschaffen
German uses separable prefixes rather than independent prepositions.
廃止する (Haishi suru)
Japanese grammar is SOV and doesn't use phrasal verbs in the English sense.
ألغى (Algha)
Arabic uses verb conjugation patterns rather than adding particles like 'away'.
废除 (Fèichú)
Chinese is isolating and doesn't have phrasal verb particles.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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