I am about to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I am about to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that you are about to do something in the near future. For example, "I am about to start my presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I am about to get flustered".

The New Yorker

I am about to collapse.

The Guardian

I am about to put on weight.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I am about to climb Mount Everest.

Harvard Business Review

Which I am about to do.

The New York Times - Sports

I am about to find out.

The New York Times

"What I am about to see".

The New Yorker

Fortunately, I am about to head east.

The New York Times

I am about to go to America.

The Guardian - Opinion

I am about to go all out.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Alas, we are a dual-career couple, and I am about to become the trailing spouse.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I am about to" to create a sense of anticipation or immediacy in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "I am about to" in a single piece of writing. Vary your sentence structure with alternatives like "I will" or "I intend to" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I am about to" functions as a declarative statement indicating a future action that is imminent. It combines a subject ("I"), a verb ("am"), and an adverbial phrase ("about to") to express the speaker's intention to perform an action in the near future, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I am about to" is a grammatically correct and highly versatile phrase used to indicate an imminent action or event. According to Ludwig, the phrase functions as a declarative statement expressing the speaker's immediate plans and can be adapted to suit a variety of contexts, primarily in news and media. While it's important to avoid overuse, "I am about to" is an effective way to create anticipation and provide context in your writing. Consider alternatives like "I'm on the verge of" or "I'm going to" for nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I'm just about to

Adds a sense of immediacy and spontaneity to the action.

I'm on the verge of

Emphasizes being very close to a particular state or action.

I'm going to

A more general expression of future intention without the same immediacy.

I'm ready to

Expresses preparedness and willingness to perform an action.

I'm set to

Indicates a scheduled or arranged future event.

I will shortly

A more formal way of indicating something will happen soon.

I fully expect to

Emphasizes the expectation of a future occurrence.

I'm planning to

Highlights the planning aspect of the future action.

I anticipate

Suggests expecting something to happen in the near future.

I foresee

Implies predicting a future event, often with a sense of certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "I am about to" in a sentence?

Use "I am about to" to indicate an action that will happen very soon. For instance, "I am about to start the meeting", or "I am about to leave for my trip".

What can I say instead of "I am about to"?

You can use alternatives like "I'm on the verge of", "I'm going to", or "I'm just about to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I am about to" or "I will"?

Both are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "I am about to" implies immediate future action, while "I will" is a more general statement of intent. The choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "I am about to" and "I intend to"?

"I am about to" suggests that an action will happen imminently. "I intend to" indicates a plan or intention to do something, but it doesn't necessarily imply immediate action.