The beginning of sense, not to say wisdom, is to realize that 'doing an action,' as used in philosophy, is a highly abstract expression--it is a stand-in used in the place of any (or almost any?) verb with a personal subject, in the same sort of way that 'thing' is a stand-in for anynoun substantive, and 'quality' a stand-in for the adjective.
J. L. AustinInfelicity is an ill to which all acts are heir which have the general character of ritual or ceremonial, all conventional acts.
J. L. AustinA sentence is made up of words, a statement is made in words.... Statements are made, words or sentences are used.
J. L. AustinIs it true or false that Belfast is north of London? That the galaxy is the shape of a fried egg? That Beethoven was a drunkard? That Wellington won the battle of Waterloo? There are various degrees and dimensions of success in making statements: the statements fit the facts always more or less loosely, in different ways on different occasions for different intents and purposes.
J. L. Austin