I forgot to

USAGE SUMMARY

"I forgot to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to mention that you forgot to do something. For example: "I forgot to book the tickets for the concert last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Honey, I forgot to duck".

Independent

I forgot to mention that".

The New Yorker

I forgot to introduce myself.

The New Yorker

I forgot to tell you.

The New Yorker

I forgot to have children".

The New Yorker

— I forgot to vote.

The New Yorker

I forgot to reload.

The New Yorker

"I forgot to remember".

The New York Times - Sports

I forgot to turn off notifications.

Independent

I forgot to call my mother".

The New Yorker

One day, I forgot to do that.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I forgot to", ensure the context clearly indicates what action was omitted. This avoids ambiguity and ensures effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "I forgot to" without specifying the action that was forgotten. Always provide context to clarify what you meant to do but didn't.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I forgot to" functions as an expression of omission or failure to perform an action. Ludwig provides many examples of its usage in everyday communication. It serves to inform someone about something that was not done.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I forgot to" is a very common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a failure to perform an action. Ludwig's AI confirms its proper usage, and the examples show its prevalence across various contexts, especially in News & Media. When using this phrase, it is recommended to clearly state the omitted action to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "I neglected to" or "It slipped my mind to" can provide stylistic variety, depending on the desired level of formality. Overall, "I forgot to" is a versatile and widely understood phrase suitable for both casual and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I didn't remember to

A straightforward way of saying that something wasn't recalled for action.

It slipped my mind to

Indicates that something was forgotten unintentionally or inadvertently.

I neglected to

Implies a failure to do something due to carelessness or a lack of attention.

I overlooked

Suggests that something was missed or not noticed, leading to it being forgotten.

I failed to remember to

More explicitly states a breakdown in remembering to perform an action.

I lost sight of

Implies that you were initially aware but then forgot about doing something.

I omitted to

Formally indicates a deliberate or unintentional exclusion of an action.

I wasn't mindful to

Emphasizes a lack of awareness or attentiveness leading to forgetting.

I blanked on

An informal way to say that you suddenly couldn't remember something.

I had a lapse in memory regarding

A formal way to state a temporary failure of memory concerning a specific action.

FAQs

How can I use "I forgot to" in a sentence?

Use "I forgot to" followed by a verb to indicate an action you failed to perform. For example, "I forgot to buy milk" or "I forgot to call my mother".

What's a less direct way to say "I forgot to"?

You could say "It slipped my mind to", which is a more casual way of expressing forgetfulness.

Which is correct, "I forgot to" or "I had forgotten to"?

Both are correct, but "I had forgotten to" implies that you realized your forgetfulness after some time had passed, while "I forgot to" is more immediate. The best choice depends on the context.

What can I say instead of "I forgot to" when being more formal?

In formal settings, you can use phrases such as "I neglected to" or "I failed to remember to", which convey a sense of responsibility.