To wit usage

The phrase to wit, meaning namely or that is to say, is primarily used in legal texts and speech, although it sometimes spills over into other types of writing.

In general, unless you’re going for a pedantic tone suggestive of officialese or legalese, it’s best to use one of the many possible alternatives, such as namely, specifically, in other words, more precisely, or to clarify.

Here’s an example of to wit usage in a legal context:

The indictment charged that Broadnax “did knowingly possess, in and affecting interstate commerce, a firearm, to wit: a RG Industries, Model RG 31, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 019420.”

In spite of to wit’s highfalutin tone in non-legal contexts, it is becoming more prevalent in news and blog writing, in which contexts it can sound a little forced. Still, it’s not likely to go away any time soon.