about to leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to leave" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is getting ready to leave a place: My friend and I were just about to leave the party when we saw the cake.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I am about to leave for Scotland for a fortnight.

The Guardian

Grand reconsidered it as Jones was about to leave.

The New York Times - Style

Train about to leave station.

The New York Times

We're about to leave.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Brunson was about to leave the riverbed.

The New Yorker

Now Gordon's about to leave, too.

The New Yorker

He was about to leave for Pakistan.

The New Yorker

We were about to leave.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He's about to leave Paris.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And you are about to leave it.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I'm about to leave..

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "about to leave" with specific time frames for greater clarity; for example, "about to leave in five minutes".

Common error

Avoid using "about to leave" for events that are planned far in the future. The phrase implies immediate or near-future action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to leave" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, indicating an action that is on the cusp of occurring. Ludwig's examples show it commonly describes imminent departures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about to leave" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that a departure is imminent. As Ludwig highlights, it's versatile and appears in a variety of contexts, from news articles to academic papers. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media sources but is also used in Academia and Science. To avoid misuse, remember that "about to leave" should only be used when referring to actions that will occur in the very near future. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the point of leaving

Similar in meaning but emphasizes the specific moment of decision.

on the verge of departing

More formal and emphasizes the closeness to the moment of departure.

going to be leaving

Slightly less immediate, suggesting a plan to leave soon.

getting ready to go

More casual and focuses on the preparation for leaving.

set to depart

More formal, often used in travel contexts.

preparing to exit

A more deliberate and formal way of saying "about to leave".

just leaving

Shorter and more informal, implying the action is happening immediately.

ready to walk out

Emphasizes a more decisive and potentially abrupt departure.

at the door

Implies physical proximity to the exit.

packing up

Focuses on the action of preparing to leave, rather than the departure itself.

FAQs

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

You can use "about to leave" to describe an imminent departure. For example, "I was "about to leave" when the phone rang".

What's a more formal alternative to "about to leave"?

A more formal alternative is "on the verge of departing". It conveys a similar meaning with a slightly more sophisticated tone.

Is it correct to say "about to leaving"?

No, "about to leaving" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""about to leave"", where "leave" is the base form of the verb.

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

"About to leave" suggests an action that will happen very soon, whereas "going to leave" implies a plan to leave at some point in the future, which might not be immediate.