a soon to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a soon to be" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone or something that is about to become a certain status or role in the near future. Example: "She is a soon to be graduate, eagerly awaiting her diploma."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

We recline in the shade, hidden behind sunglasses, and watch America at ease on a soon to be summer day.

The New York Times

But that seems to be fading in this new era of excitement about a soon to be united Germany.

The New York Times - Arts

How about a (soon to be) Director of Blogger Networks?

TechCrunch

Today, OpenFeint is announcing a soon to be released platform for Android apps.

TechCrunch

An unhappy employee is a soon to be flight risk, and likely a future champion against working there.

Forbes

I am a soon to be Alumni of Stonehill College.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Would you consider a soon-to-be outdated model?

The New York Times

Urban wineries and a soon-to-be-transformed waterfront.

The New York Times - Travel

A quick conversation with Lorkowski revealed interests typical of a soon-to-be seventh grader.

The New York Times - Sports

SHORTLY after Sept. 11, 2001, a soon-to-be familiar figure appeared in the news media.

The New York Times

A soon-to-be-launched app is expected to drive that number up sharply.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a soon to be" to clearly indicate an impending change in status or condition. It adds a sense of anticipation and immediacy to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a soon to be" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "future" or "prospective" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a soon to be" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, that describes a noun by indicating its impending state. Ludwig AI confirms this as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a soon to be" is a grammatically correct and usable adjectival phrase that signals an impending state or condition. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and although its frequency is uncommon, it finds application across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. While versatile, it’s best to avoid overuse in strictly formal or academic settings, where alternatives like "future" or "prospective" might be more appropriate. Remember to use the hyphenated form "soon-to-be" when it precedes a noun as a compound adjective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to be

Focuses on the immediacy of the future state.

future

A more general term indicating something that will exist or happen in the time ahead.

prospective

Highlights the potential or likelihood of something becoming.

approaching

Emphasizes the nearness of the future event or state.

forthcoming

Suggests that something is going to occur or appear soon.

imminent

Indicates that something is about to happen very soon, often implying urgency.

on the horizon

Implies that something is coming but might still be distant.

in the pipeline

Describes something that is in development or preparation.

destined to be

Highlights the inevitability of the future state.

eventual

Suggests something will happen at some point in the future, without specifying when.

FAQs

How can I use "a soon to be" in a sentence?

Use "a soon to be" to describe something that is expected to become a particular thing in the near future. For example, "He is "a soon to be father"." or "That is "a soon to be released film"".

What are some alternatives to "a soon to be"?

Alternatives include "future", "prospective", or "about to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to hyphenate "soon-to-be"?

Hyphenating "soon-to-be" is common when it acts as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., "a soon-to-be graduate"). However, when used after a verb, the hyphen is typically omitted (e.g., "She is a soon to be graduate").

What's the difference between "a soon to be" and "a future"?

"A soon to be" implies a shorter timeframe and greater certainty than "a future". "A soon to be" suggests something is on the immediate horizon, while "a future" is more general and distant.