about to hold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to hold" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an event or action is imminent or will happen very soon. Example: "We are about to hold a meeting to discuss the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Or about to hold up a bank.

Independent

With Russia about to hold the Winter Games in Sochi, the country is open to pressure.

The New York Times

He looked as if he were about to hold a yoga class.

The New York Times

9.20pm GMT New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is about to hold a briefing on the storm.

The Guardian

The US state department is about to hold a daily briefing.

The Guardian

Also, the SYRIZA opposition party is about to hold a rally outside the Archaeological Museum.

The Guardian - Business

While just across the Libyan border, Tunisia is just about to hold its first elections.

The Guardian - Opinion

6.26pm BST Summary The US state department is about to hold its daily briefing.

The Guardian

The club is about to hold its first general meeting since formation back in July.

The Guardian - Sport

JustGiving – the social giving platform partner of the Happy List – is about to hold its annual award ceremony.

Independent

6.09pm BST Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is about to hold a briefing on the proposed Pentagon budget for FY2014.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to hold" to clearly indicate that an event or action will occur in the very near future. It's particularly effective in news reports, announcements, and descriptions of planned activities.

Common error

While "about to hold" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "is scheduled to convene" or "is preparing to conduct" in academic or highly professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to hold" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject is on the verge of performing the action of holding something, typically an event, meeting, or discussion. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about to hold" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the imminence of an event or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used and understood. It functions as a predicate, announcing or predicting something that will happen very soon. While generally neutral in register, it's most frequently found in News & Media contexts. When writing, be mindful of the context, and consider more formal alternatives for academic or highly professional settings. Overall, it is an effective way to convey the near future occurrence of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of holding

Emphasizes the proximity to the action or event.

on the brink of holding

Suggests a critical point just before the action.

on the cusp of holding

Implies being at the very beginning of the action.

ready to hold

Indicates preparedness and anticipation.

preparing to hold

Focuses on the preparatory actions.

getting ready to hold

Highlights the process of becoming ready.

set to hold

Emphasizes a scheduled or planned event.

scheduled to hold

Specifically refers to a planned occurrence.

going to hold

A more informal and conversational alternative.

intending to hold

Focuses on the intention or plan to execute the action.

FAQs

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

You can use "about to hold" to indicate an imminent action or event, for example: "The company is "about to hold" a press conference", or "The city is "about to hold" its annual marathon".

What are some alternatives to "about to hold"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "on the verge of holding", "preparing to hold", or "scheduled to hold".

Is "about to hold" formal or informal?

"About to hold" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal or academic writing, consider using alternatives that sound more professional.

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

While both phrases indicate a future action, "about to hold" suggests a higher degree of immediacy than "going to hold". "About to hold" implies that the event will happen very soon, whereas "going to hold" simply indicates a plan or intention.