I was about to dispatch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was about to dispatch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that you were on the verge of sending something, such as a message, package, or order. Example: "I was about to dispatch the package when I realized I forgot to include the invoice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was about to dispatch my second when a greying, pot-bellied man appeared next to me at the bar.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We are about to dispatch experts to Tunisia to assess the situation on the ground and we will further adjust our assistance to help the people more directly.

The Guardian - Opinion

She sent us this dispatch: The United Nations science panel is about to release an exhaustive new report on climate change at a press conference in Yokohama.

The Guardian

A tall man with the lanky frame of the pitcher he was back at St . Louis University Brother Prendergast had trained as a Navy fighter pilot in World War II and was about to be dispatched to the Western Pacific when the war ended.

The New York Times

Jonathan Veitch, Unicef's representative in South Sudan, said the children may have been about to be dispatched to fight rebels at Kaka, about 45 minutes away by boat.

Independent

The properties in these streets are of the type you only ever see belonging to some dastardly aristo who is about to be dispatched in Midsomer Murders.

The Guardian - Opinion

More bodies are arranged under a long refectory table, and smaller figures are lined up on a flat-topped railway cart, as if they're about to be dispatched somewhere.

The Guardian - Arts

But that is about to occur, officials said, with the dispatching of five NATO surveillance planes that will circle American skies, freeing United States planes to carry out missions elsewhere.

The New York Times

Under the French constitution President François Hollande can dispatch troops abroad, as he is about to do in the Central African Republic (CAR), conduct foreign affairs as he pleases, and dissolve parliament as he sees fit.

The Economist

There were about over 5,000,000 ambulance dispatches in Japan, and the time for transportation is increasing (the national average: 36.1 minutes) [ 1].

Critical Care

Across the country, there are about 11,500 privately employed firefighters ready to be dispatched as needed to fight wildfires, said Debbie Miley, the executive director of the National Wildfire Suppression Association.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was about to dispatch" when you want to convey that you were on the immediate point of sending or releasing something. For example, "I was about to dispatch the email when I noticed a typo."

Common error

While grammatically sound, "I was about to dispatch" can sound slightly informal in very formal business or academic settings. Consider alternatives like "I was on the verge of sending" or "I intended to send" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I was about to dispatch" is to act as a declarative phrase indicating an imminent action. It describes a state of readiness immediately preceding the act of sending something, similar to what Ludwig AI says about the phrase being correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was about to dispatch" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to convey an intent to immediately send or release something. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness, and while its frequency is rare, the contexts in which it appears span across news, business, and science, and as such, the register is considered neutral. If a more formal register is needed, alternatives such as "I was on the verge of sending" should be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was ready to dispatch

Focuses on the state of readiness for dispatching.

I was on the verge of sending

Replaces "about to dispatch" with a more general expression of being close to sending.

I was prepared to dispatch

Similar to ready, but emphasizes the preparation involved.

I was just going to send

Uses "just going to" to convey the immediacy of the intended action.

I was on the point of dispatching

Uses "on the point of" to indicate being very close to the action.

I was planning to dispatch

Emphasizes the planning aspect before the action.

I nearly dispatched

Highlights how close you were to do something.

I almost dispatched

Similar to nearly dispatched.

I had intended to dispatch

Highlights the intention to dispatch something.

I anticipated dispatching

Uses anticipation to stress the importance of doing the dispatch.

FAQs

What does "I was about to dispatch" mean?

The phrase "I was about to dispatch" means that you were on the immediate point of sending something, whether it be a message, a package, or an order.

What can I say instead of "I was about to dispatch"?

You can use alternatives like "I was ready to dispatch", "I was just going to send", or "I was planning to dispatch" depending on the context.

Is "I was about to dispatch" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral but may lean slightly towards informal. In very formal contexts, consider using phrases like "I was on the verge of sending".

How to use "I was about to dispatch" in a sentence?

You can use "I was about to dispatch" to describe an action you were about to take. For example, "I was about to dispatch the report when my boss asked for revisions."