about to occur

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to occur" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is imminent or will happen very soon. Example: "The storm is about to occur, so we should take cover immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over at 2207 Seymour Avenue, there was about to occur the only precisely datable event in Castro's 11-year degeneracy.

Independent

This in itself created expectations that historic events were about to occur.

BBC

I make eye-contact with him, subtly blaming him for all that's about to occur.

Huffington Post

We have leapt across tables, knocked over podiums, or grabbed a principal's lapel to muffle a microphone when realizing that an unscripted moment was about to occur.

Huffington Post

"What do they think is about to occur?" he wonders.

The New York Times - Books

I am without adequate words for the hideous event that is about to occur".

The Guardian

"We have an extremely serious credit market dislocation about to occur — like maybe tomorrow," he wrote.

The New York Times

"The thought was to butter her up for what was about to occur," he said.

The New York Times

Could this be a sign that a major earthquake was about to occur?

The New York Times - Science

She has a sense of what the moment is and what is about to occur.

Yale University

"These numbers give a real warning to the American people of what is about to occur".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to occur" when you want to emphasize the immediacy of an upcoming event or action. It adds a sense of anticipation and urgency.

Common error

Avoid using "about to occur" excessively in passive constructions. Instead of saying "a mistake was about to occur", try the more direct "someone was about to make a mistake".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to occur" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an event's imminence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It often appears before a noun or clause, signaling that something is on the cusp of happening.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

28%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about to occur" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate that something is imminent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various writing styles. Predominantly found in news, science, and academic contexts, it's suitable for expressing anticipation, warning, or simply signaling the nearness of an event. While there are many alternatives like "on the verge of happening" or "imminent", "about to occur" offers a clear and accessible way to communicate the idea of an upcoming event, making it a valuable tool in any writer's arsenal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of happening

Focuses on the threshold of an event, emphasizing the closeness to its start.

on the brink of happening

Highlights the precarious nature of the situation just before the event.

imminent

A more formal and concise way to express that something is just about to happen.

forthcoming

Suggests that something is going to happen soon, but may be slightly less immediate.

set to happen

Implies a plan or schedule for the event to take place.

approaching

Indicates the event is drawing nearer, but doesn't specify immediacy.

coming up

A more casual way to say something will happen soon.

oncoming

Similar to approaching, but can carry a sense of force or momentum.

in the pipeline

Suggests the event is in progress and will occur at the end.

in store

Suggests that something is going to happen, often unexpected or surprising.

FAQs

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

You can use "about to occur" to describe an event that is imminent. For example, "The meeting is "about to occur", so please take your seats".

What are some alternatives to "about to occur"?

Some alternatives to "about to occur" include "on the verge of happening", "imminent", or "approaching". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "about to occur" formal or informal?

"About to occur" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for most writing contexts, but more formal options like "imminent" might be preferable in highly academic or professional settings.

What is the difference between "about to occur" and "going to happen"?

"About to occur" suggests a higher degree of certainty and immediacy than "going to happen". "About to occur" implies the event will happen very soon, while "going to happen" can refer to something in the near or distant future.