What will be will be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What will be will be" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an expression that is used to indicate that what happens in the future is beyond one's control, and is usually used to express resignation or acceptance of a situation. For example: "I know that I'm taking a risk by investing my money in this business, but I'm trying to stay positive and keep in mind that what will be will be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

"What will be will be.

The New York Times

What will be will be, whereas battling forever against the odds will just be exhausting.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What will be will be, I have had an unbelievable 21 years there.

The Guardian - Sport

What will be, will be.

The New York Times

"What will be will be," adds Walsh.

BBC

What will be will be with regards to that".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

A man and a woman randomly meet and sparks fly, but they decide to rely on 'what will be will be' and see if they will find each other again without exchanging names or numbers.

Independent

"I have always been a practitioner of 'what will be will be' -- a tangential corollary to 'resist not evil' -- and I have found that that mindset has put less stress in my life and has proved over and over again that seeming defeats usually lead to new scenarios with great joys," said Shimerman.

Huffington Post

It's about anticipation slowly melting into an acceptance that what ever will be, will be.

The Guardian - Sport

"The one thing we can definitely predict is that there will be very large companies but what they will be will be completely unpredictable".

TechCrunch

"The ultimate decision, in terms of what this charge will be, will be presented to the grand jury".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the expression at the end of a sentence to provide a definitive, closing sentiment to a discussion about future worries.

Common error

Avoid using "What will be will be" as a justification for failing to prepare for avoidable risks. While it expresses acceptance of the unknown, using it to dismiss necessary action can sound unprofessional or irresponsible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "What will be will be" functions as a philosophical tautology used to express fatalism or resignation. In linguistic terms, it is a declarative sentence where the subject and predicate describe the same inevitable state. According to Ludwig AI, it is often employed as a conversational closer to indicate that the speaker has exhausted their influence over a situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki & General Advice

15%

Science & Philosophy

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Legal Writing

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "What will be will be" is a robust and grammatically correct English idiom used to express a fatalistic acceptance of the future. According to Ludwig AI, it is exceptionally common in high-quality journalism, particularly when athletes or managers discuss upcoming results or when individuals face health challenges. The expression acts as a verbal shrug, signaling that while one might have worked hard to influence an outcome, the final result rests with fate. While it is synonymous with the Spanish-style phrase "que sera sera", it remains a staple of English discourse due to its simplicity and rhythmic, tautological structure. Writers should use it to convey a sense of peace or resignation, but should be wary of its use in contexts where proactive planning is expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

que sera sera

Spanish-origin equivalent that is arguably even more idiomatic in English popular culture.

whatever happens, happens

more literal and casual version of the same philosophical sentiment.

fate will decide

explicitly attributes the outcome to destiny rather than a general tautology.

come what may

emphasizes a commitment to proceed regardless of the future outcome.

it is what it is

focuses on acceptance of the current situation rather than future inevitability.

let nature take its course

suggests a lack of intervention in a natural or biological process.

so be it

a shorter, more decisive expression of acceptance, often used after a decision is made.

leave it to chance

implies a deliberate choice to stop trying to control the variables.

what's done is done

refers to past events that cannot be changed instead of future ones.

accept the inevitable

more formal and clinical description of the same mindset.

FAQs

How do I use "What will be will be" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standalone statement of resignation or as a dependent clause, such as in "I've done all the preparation I can, so now I must just accept that "what will be will be"".

What is the difference between "What will be will be" and "it is what it is"?

While both express acceptance, ""what will be will be"" refers to the future and fate, whereas "it is what it is" typically refers to accepting a current, often unchangeable reality.

Is "What will be will be" formal enough for business?

It is generally considered neutral but might be seen as too fatalistic for proactive business environments. A more professional alternative might be "come what may" or simply stating that you will adapt to the outcome.

Is it the same as "que sera sera"?

Yes, they are semantically identical. "que sera sera" is the Italian/Spanish-style equivalent made famous by song, while ""what will be will be"" is the direct English translation.