about to quit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to quit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone is on the verge of resigning or stopping an activity. Example: "After months of frustration, I am about to quit my job if things don't improve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It says Brown is about to quit.

The Guardian

She was about to quit.

The New Yorker

However, Gbagbo was not about to quit.

The Guardian

Not about to quit my mates anyway".

The Guardian

But U.S. casino operators are not about to quit Macau.

The New Yorker

She was overweight and apparently about to quit.

The Guardian - Sport

Villa's players were completely unaware that O'Neill was about to quit.

The Guardian - Sport

"Well, it ain't about to quit raining for Charles Drew Hart".

The New Yorker

"They're not about to quit," Professor Stone said of Wal-Mart executives.

The New York Times

Having overcome polio when he was six, nearly losing his leg in the process, Johnston was not about to quit.

Independent

And Strictly host Forsyth teased the audience by pretending he was about to quit his role as the show's presenter.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "about to quit" with a reason to provide context and make the situation more relatable to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "about to quit" when describing actions already taken. "About to quit" refers to an imminent future action, not something that has already happened. Instead of saying "He was about to quit, so he quit", say "He was about to quit, and then he did" or "He was going to quit, and he did."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to quit" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an imminent action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It describes a state where someone is on the verge of stopping an activity, job, or commitment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

7%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about to quit" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express the imminence of someone stopping an activity or leaving a situation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a verbal phrase, often found in neutral contexts like news and media. While alternatives such as "on the verge of quitting" or "ready to give up" exist, "about to quit" effectively conveys the sense of an imminent decision. Remember to use it to describe future actions, not those already completed, to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of quitting

This alternative emphasizes the closeness to the act of quitting.

on the point of resigning

This phrase specifically refers to formal resignation, often from a job.

almost resigning

Implies a near action of resignation.

ready to give up

This suggests a state of willingness or emotional readiness to quit.

contemplating resignation

This implies a more thoughtful consideration of quitting.

on the brink of leaving

This alternative broadens the scope to include leaving any situation, not just quitting a job.

thinking of resigning

This indicates consideration of quitting, but without the same sense of imminence.

close to throwing in the towel

This is an idiomatic expression indicating a willingness to quit due to defeat or difficulty.

nearing the end

This is more ambiguous and relies on context to indicate quitting.

on the edge of stopping

This implies a tentative position before fully stopping.

FAQs

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

Use "about to quit" to indicate that someone is on the verge of resigning or stopping an activity. For example: "After months of frustration, I am about to quit my job if things don't improve."

What can I say instead of "about to quit"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of quitting", "ready to give up", or "on the point of resigning" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "about to quit"?

Yes, the phrase "about to quit" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. Ludwig AI confirms this.

What's the difference between "about to quit" and "thinking of quitting"?

"About to quit" implies a more immediate decision and action, while "thinking of quitting" suggests consideration without the same sense of imminence. Ludwig can offer more examples to explore the nuances of these phrases.