about to do now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to do now" is not correct in standard written English.
It is a confusing construction that mixes tenses and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I am about to do now what I have been planning for weeks."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

One result of this unease in Republican circles is that the White House is receiving conflicting advice about what to do now that the general election race is about to begin in earnest.

The New York Times

Mr. Salazar's order gives the agency little guidance about what to do now, including whether to rescind the leases.

The New York Times

Such uncertainty generates another kind of uncertainty, about what to do now, in the near term, and in the long term.

Harvard University

Asked about what to do now, a majority of Americans say they want families detained together rather than temporarily released until their court appearances and possible deportation.

The Washington Post

At moments of doubt, I worry that they are like merely conceptual art, where the idea is interesting to entertain but the encounter with the work leaves you a little stymied about what to do now.

Princeton University

"Unfortunately, a lot of the women who come here don't have bank accounts, and many of them don't have information about what to do now," says Shivani Saini, coordinator at the centre.

The Guardian

Given that distributive justice is about what to do now, not just what to think, alternate distributive theories must, in part, compete as comprehensive systems which take into account the practical constraints we face.

SEP

A reader wrote to me seeking advice about what to do now.

Huffington Post

So can we please declare this debate closed, and think about what to do now?

Huffington Post

Beef distributors in the area were selling more than 350,000 pounds of beef per day, and are uncertain about what to do now.

Vice

If you feel anxiety about "what to do", now that nobody else is telling you what to do, that's the most exciting part of the journey... remember childhood?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "about to do now" in formal writing. Opt for simpler and clearer alternatives like "about to do" or "going to do now".

Common error

The phrase "about to do now" unnecessarily combines the immediacy of "about to" with the present moment indicated by "now". Choose either to emphasize the imminence with "about to do" or the present intention with "going to do now".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to do now" is an incorrect construction. It attempts to combine the immediate future tense ("about to do") with an adverb indicating the present moment ("now"). According to Ludwig AI, the phrase mixes tenses and lacks clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about to do now" is considered grammatically incorrect due to its mixing of tenses. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It's best to avoid this phrase in any form of writing or speech. Instead, use alternatives such as "about to do" to indicate immediate action, or "going to do now" to express a present intention. Choosing clearer and grammatically sound alternatives will improve the clarity and professionalism of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to do

Omits "now", focusing on the immediacy of the action without specifying a timeframe.

going to do now

Replaces "about to" with "going to", changing the expression from immediacy to intention in the present moment.

planning to do now

Emphasizes the planning aspect of doing something in the present.

in the process of doing now

Highlights that an action is currently underway.

currently doing

Focuses on an action that is happening at the present time.

doing at the moment

Specifies that the action is happening right now.

about to start doing

Highlights the imminence of beginning an action.

intending to do now

Emphasizes the intention to perform an action presently.

going to start now

Focuses on beginning something immediately.

doing habitually

Focuses on actions that are part of routine.

FAQs

What does "about to do" mean?

"About to do" means on the verge of doing something, or ready to start something immediately. For example: "I'm "about to leave" for work".

Is it correct to say "about to do now"?

No, the phrase "about to do now" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to say "about to do" or "going to do now" depending on the intended meaning.

What's a more formal way to say "going to do now"?

A more formal alternative to "going to do now" is "intend to do now" or "plan to do now". For example: "I "intend to start" the project immediately".

Can I use "about to do" and "going to do" interchangeably?

While they are similar, "about to do" emphasizes immediate action, whereas "going to do" expresses a plan or intention. Choose the phrase that best reflects the specific meaning you want to convey.