a heads up

USAGE SUMMARY

"a heads up" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to inform someone of important information before they would otherwise have known about it. For example, "I just wanted to give you a heads up—the meeting has been moved to next Tuesday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

"I want to give you a heads up and everyone a heads up," he told Wolf Blitzer.

The New York Times

Just wanted to give you a heads up".

The New York Times

But there's a difference between giving Dad a heads up and asking him to sign off".

The New York Times

Or at least giving you a heads up before the poach went down.

The New York Times

Just a heads up peeps.

TechCrunch

So yeah, just a heads up for y'all.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

This one's more of a heads-up.

The Guardian - Tech

It was a heads-up, gutsy play.

The New York Times - Sports

Just then, someone gave a heads-up.

The New York Times

And a heads-up they will get, from "The Catch".

The New York Times

A heads-up: I'm doing This Week this week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a heads up" when you want to informally alert someone to something they need to be aware of, especially if it involves a change or potential issue.

Common error

Avoid using "a heads up" in highly formal or professional documents; opt for more formal alternatives like "advance notice" or "preliminary notification".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a heads up" is to serve as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb like "give" or "get". According to Ludwig, the phrase is perfectly correct and usable in written English, making it a reliable element of communication.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

21%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a heads up" is a common and correct idiomatic expression used to provide someone with advance notice or a warning. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While predominantly used in informal and neutral contexts like News & Media and Wiki, it should be used cautiously in more formal settings. Alternatives such as "advance notice" or "prior notification" may be more suitable for professional communications. Remember to use it to alert someone of something they need to be aware of!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heads-up

Shortened, more informal version of the original phrase.

advance notice

Emphasizes the aspect of providing notification beforehand.

preliminary notification

Highlights the official or formal aspect of giving prior information.

early warning

Focuses on the cautionary aspect, suggesting a potential problem.

just so you know

Informal way to introduce important information.

fair warning

Indicates a warning is being given, allowing preparation.

for your information

A more formal way to provide information that might be useful.

initial notification

Focuses on the fact that this is the very first notice.

pre-warning

Highlights the anticipation of something before it happens.

preemptive alert

Highlights the alert before the event, usually warning of danger.

FAQs

How can I use "a heads up" in a sentence?

You can use "a heads up" to give someone a warning or advance notice about something. For example, "I wanted to give you "a heads up" about the upcoming changes to the project deadline."

What's a more formal alternative to "a heads up"?

More formal alternatives to "a heads up" include "advance notice", "prior notification", or "preliminary warning", which are suitable for professional or official communications.

Is "heads up" ever written as two words?

Yes, "heads up" is commonly written as two words when used as a noun phrase, like in the sentence "I wanted to give you "a heads up"". It can also be hyphenated as "heads-up".

What's the difference between "a heads up" and a formal warning?

"A heads up" is generally an informal notification or advisory, whereas a formal warning is typically a more serious notification regarding potential consequences or violations.