about to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to go" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase indicates that someone or something is about to begin a journey or an action. For example, you could say: "We are about to go on a long drive across the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's about to go".

The New Yorker

And the barn's about to go".

The New Yorker

I'm also about to go into politics.

Independent

I am about to go to America.

The Guardian - Opinion

I am about to go all out.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm just about to go there.

The Guardian

Or about to go to college.

The New Yorker

Those questions aren't about to go away".

The New York Times

Each was about to go home.

The New York Times - Arts

Ferguson is about to go and Mancini has already departed.

BBC

"He's about to go on tour.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to go" to clearly indicate an immediate future action or departure. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a sense of urgency or anticipation in your writing.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary adverbs like "soon" or "right" before "about to go". Saying "I'm soon about to go" is redundant because "about to" already indicates immediacy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to go" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating an action that is imminent or on the verge of happening. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in a variety of contexts. Examples include "I'm about to go out" and "The bomb's about to go off, baby".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about to go" is a common and grammatically correct way to express an action that will happen very soon. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's versatile enough for use in various contexts, though slightly leaning toward informal communication. While its frequency is high across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings, users should be mindful of avoiding redundancy and considering more formal alternatives like "on the verge of" or "is scheduled to start" in professional writing. By understanding its function and appropriate context, writers can effectively use the phrase "about to go" to convey immediacy and anticipation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of leaving

This alternative suggests a point just before departure, emphasizing the proximity to leaving.

on the point of departing

Similar to "on the verge", this emphasizes the precise moment of departure is near.

ready to take off

This implies a state of preparedness for imminent departure, often used in the context of travel.

going to commence

This alternative suggests the beginning of an action or event, placing focus on its initiation.

set to embark

Implies a formal beginning or start of a journey or endeavor.

due to initiate

Suggests that something is scheduled to begin, emphasizing scheduling.

slated to start

Similar to "due to initiate", focusing on the predetermined start time of something.

on the brink of starting

Implies a critical threshold just before the start of something significant.

nearing departure

Highlights the approach of the time to leave, diminishing the distance to that event.

close to launching

Implies being very near to introducing or beginning something new, like a product or project.

FAQs

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

You can use "about to go" to indicate that something will happen very soon. For instance, "The movie is about to go start" or "I'm about to go to the store".

What's a more formal way to say "about to go"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "on the verge of", "on the point of", or "set to begin", depending on the context.

Is "about to go" appropriate for professional writing?

While "about to go" is widely understood, it leans towards informal usage. In professional contexts, consider alternatives like "will commence" or "is scheduled to start" for a more polished tone.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "about to go"?

Avoid using redundant adverbs such as "soon" or "just" directly before "about to go", as the phrase already conveys a sense of immediacy. Also, ensure the tense of any accompanying verbs aligns logically with the intended meaning.