about to surge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to surge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is on the verge of increasing or rising significantly, often in contexts related to trends, emotions, or physical phenomena. Example: "The stock market is about to surge after the positive economic report was released."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The US is about to "surge" another brigade, somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000 extra troops, into Afghanistan for a renewed offensive in the borderlands with Pakistan.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then: "Anyone?" Then: "They were about to surge forward".

The Guardian

Place your bets Health-care heretic ReprintsDemand for all kinds of consumer products is about to surge, in short.

The Economist

That might fundamentally alter how they think about recruitment as the economy recovers.In the past, once economists had declared a downturn over, firms would typically start hiring in the expectation that demand was about to surge.

The Economist

Wall Street economists assured us that business investment was about to surge, yet corporate leaders -- who actually make the investment decisions -- have consistently been much more pessimistic than the forecasters.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Trump tried to calm global markets and ease concerns on Wednesday that his trade truce with China was floundering, declaring in a series of Twitter posts that the Chinese government was sending "very strong signals" about a weekend agreement he reached with President Xi Jinping and suggesting that American exports to China are about to surge.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Big time". Complaints about grows began to surge five years ago, said Matt St. John, executive officer of the North Coast water board.

Los Angeles Times

With an unusually large lead pack of about 20 runners, Goumri decided to surge ahead.

The New York Times - Sports

The ocean is expected to surge about 1 to 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the normal astronomical tide, which is likely to inundate the low-lying areas of the Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts in Tamil Nadu and Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.

The New York Times

"In 2018 we had 200,000 battery electric vehicle sales in Europe, and in 2019 we expect this to surge about 35% to 275,000.

Forbes

Demand for imported corn alone is expected to surge from about five million tons this year to more than 20 million tons in just 10 years.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to surge" when you want to convey that something is on the immediate brink of a significant increase. It's suitable for describing trends, emotions, or literal movements.

Common error

Avoid using "about to surge" for minor or gradual changes. The word "surge" implies a sudden and substantial increase, so ensure your context warrants this level of intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to surge" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a future event with a high degree of certainty and immediacy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about to surge" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates an imminent and significant increase. Ludwig AI highlights its applicability across varied contexts, from news reporting to business forecasts. While versatile, it's most commonly found in news and business-related sources, suggesting a neutral to professional register. When considering alternatives, options like "on the verge of increasing" or "expected to surge" can offer similar meanings while subtly adjusting the tone or emphasis. Remember to reserve its use for situations involving noteworthy and sudden changes, maintaining the intended impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to surge

Expresses an anticipation that something will increase significantly.

on the verge of increasing

Replaces "about to" with "on the verge of", suggesting a point just before an increase.

on the cusp of rising

Similar to 'on the verge of', it implies being at the very edge of an upward trend.

imminent rise

Highlights the nearness of the increase

set to escalate

Emphasizes a planned or expected increase, particularly in intensity or scale.

poised to jump

Suggests readiness and potential for a sudden, significant increase.

ready to take off

Evokes an image of imminent departure and rapid ascent, often used in business contexts.

approaching rapid growth

Implies that rapid growth is coming very soon

soon to skyrocket

Replaces "surge" with "skyrocket", indicating a dramatic and rapid increase.

on the horizon to jump

Indicates that a rise is foreseeable and is going to happen in the future

FAQs

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

You can use "about to surge" to describe something that is on the verge of a rapid increase, for example: "The company's profits are "about to surge" due to the new product launch."

What phrases are similar to "about to surge"?

Alternatives include "on the verge of increasing", "expected to surge", or "set to escalate", which each offer slightly different nuances of imminent increase.

Is "about to surge" formal or informal?

The phrase "about to surge" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the specific situation. However, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or highly professional settings.

What's the difference between "about to surge" and "likely to increase"?

"About to surge" suggests an imminent and rapid increase, whereas "likely to increase" indicates a higher probability of a more gradual rise. The former implies a sense of immediacy and intensity that the latter lacks.