about to become

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to become" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is on the verge of changing or transitioning into a different state or condition. Example: "The weather is about to become much colder as winter approaches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His days are about to become even more unfamiliar.

The New York Times

We aren't about to become an on-line university.

Duke University

He was 38 and about to become a father.

Los Angeles Times

A2 Milk Is About To Become A Health Food Trend.

HuffPost

His job is about to become easier.

The New York Times - Sports

She's about to become a nephrologist.

The New York Times - Science

Advertisements are about to become discriminating.

Independent

We are about to become environmental optimists.

The New Yorker

And who they were about to become.

The Washington Post

They are about to become even bigger.

The New York Times - Sports

Fit was about to become snit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to become" to create a sense of anticipation or immediacy in your writing. This phrase effectively conveys that a change or transition is imminent.

Common error

Avoid using "about to become" in overly passive constructions. For instance, instead of saying "The decision is about to become implemented", opt for "They are about to implement the decision" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to become" functions as a marker of imminent transition or change. It indicates that a subject is on the cusp of entering a new state or condition. Ludwig examples show this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

27%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about to become" is a versatile and commonly used expression that signals imminent change or transition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and appears frequently in news media, academic writing, and scientific publications. While synonyms like "on the verge of being" can provide variety, "about to become" effectively conveys anticipation and immediacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of being

Emphasizes the closeness to a particular state.

on the brink of turning into

Highlights the precipice of transformation.

is soon to be

Focuses on the temporal aspect of the transformation.

is set to transform into

Implies a planned or scheduled change.

is on the cusp of becoming

Highlights the moment of transition.

is nearing the point of being

Suggests gradual approach to a new state.

is approaching the state of

Focuses on the process of becoming.

will shortly be

Emphasizes the short timeframe until the change.

is anticipated to become

Suggests expectation or prediction of the change.

is poised to transform into

Emphasizes readiness and likelihood of change.

FAQs

How can I use "about to become" in a sentence?

The phrase "about to become" indicates that something is on the verge of changing. For example, "The situation is "about to become critical"" or "She is "about to become a mother"".

What are some alternatives to "about to become"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of being", "is soon to be", or "is on the cusp of becoming depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "about to be become"?

No, the correct phrasing is "about to become". The inclusion of "be" is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "about to become" and "going to become"?

"About to become" suggests a higher degree of immediacy than "going to become". "About to become" implies something will happen very soon, whereas "going to become" implies a future intention or event that may not be as immediate.