about to be signed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to be signed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a document or agreement is on the verge of being signed or finalized. Example: "The contract is about to be signed, and we expect the project to commence next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

But just as the deal was about to be signed, the Chinese government offered Nigeria $9 billion to rebuild the entire rail network — no bids, no conditions and no need to reform.

The New York Times

Kim Jong-un has had a tense relationship with the Obama Administration since Kim's first months as leader, when he scuttled a generous U.S. offer of food assistance, which North Korea badly needed, by ordering a satellite launch just as the deal was about to be signed.

The New Yorker

Earlier this year an offer from Aero Vodochody, a Czech government-owned company in which Boeing has a 35% stake, caused delay.A Hawk deal was about to be signed in March 2001 when widespread Indian defence ministry corruption was revealed by tehelka.com, a Delhi-based website.

The Economist

Rumors of the movie first surfaced in June last year, before Ted Danson confirmed that a deal was about to be signed and that Ames was working on the script in November.

Huffington Post

So why bother signing on just as the hereditaries are about to be signed off?

The Guardian

Feller previously indicated that a title sponsor was signed or about to be signed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Now this prop is about to be removed.Indeed, the first signs of a consumer slowdown are already apparent.

The Economist

"You won't find me talking about speculation about people who are signed to other clubs.

BBC

The hardest about being signed to a record company is once you sign the deal they want their product.

Huffington Post

It's a compellingly meta song, too – about being signed, about writing to order and pulling against the puppeteer's strings.

The Guardian - Music

Lamont intervened following claims that a key witness did not, as previously thought, withdraw evidence about being signed up to Labour by Unite without her knowledge.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to be signed" when you want to emphasize that an agreement or document is in its final stages and will likely be signed very soon. This phrase adds a sense of anticipation or finality.

Common error

Avoid using "about to be signed" when referring to past events. It implies a future action from the point of speaking, so ensure the context aligns with an impending signature.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to be signed" functions as a passive adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (e.g., contract, agreement) to indicate its state. As Ludwig AI clarifies, the phrase accurately describes something imminent and ready for signing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about to be signed" is a grammatically correct and useful expression for indicating that a document or agreement is on the verge of being finalized. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in various contexts. While not extremely common, it appears across reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, suggesting its reliability in formal and informal settings. When using this phrase, be mindful of the intended meaning: to emphasize the imminence of a signature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of being signed

Emphasizes the proximity to the act of signing.

imminent signature

Highlights the nearness of the signature event.

soon to be signed

Indicates that the signing will happen in the near future.

close to signature

Focuses on the advanced stage in the signing process.

nearly signed

Highlights how close the document is to being signed.

on the cusp of being signed

Emphasizes the critical moment just before signing.

expected to be signed shortly

Highlights the anticipation of a signature soon.

scheduled for signing

Highlights that there is a timetable for the action.

in the process of being signed

Focuses on the active signing process.

set to be signed

Suggests a formal arrangement leading to the signature.

FAQs

How to use "about to be signed" in a sentence?

Use "about to be signed" to describe something that is on the verge of being formally agreed upon or finalized, such as, "The contract is "about to be signed", pending final review".

What can I say instead of "about to be signed"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of being signed", "imminent signature", or "soon to be signed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "about to be signed" or "about to sign"?

"About to sign" implies someone is actively preparing to sign something themselves. "About to be signed" indicates that something is prepared and will soon receive a signature, possibly by someone else. Both are correct but have distinct meanings.

What's the difference between "about to be signed" and "already signed"?

"About to be signed" refers to something that is pending a signature and is not yet final. "Already signed" means the agreement is complete and legally binding because the necessary signatures have been affixed.