about to use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to use" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is on the verge of utilizing something in the near future. Example: "I am about to use the new software for our project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And yet I am about to use it.

The Guardian - Music

Talk about, to use Trump's phrase, a nasty woman.

The New Yorker

I am about to use a word I have never knowingly used in any review of any book ever.

The Guardian - Books

Encourage people who are out and about to use social media and in places where they wouldn't normally.

The Guardian

I'm not about to use this thing exclusively to clean my house: I like you guys, but not that much, okay?

TechCrunch

I am about to use the word "snot" in a less-than-pleasant context.

Huffington Post

Another time, Lambert's M-88 rolled over the flagpole that McLaughlin was about to use.

The New Yorker

"But I am not about to use our funds to subsidize a landlord.

The New York Times

It is hard to think of exactly what word Santorum was about to use.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you're offended by swearing, apologies, because I'm about to use the word bullshit quite a lot.

The Guardian - Opinion

He started to say something, paused for six seconds, then apologized for the coarse language he was about to use.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sequence of events, use "about to use" to transition smoothly into the next action.

Common error

Avoid using "about to use" excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by employing synonyms like "going to use" or "intending to use" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to use" functions as a marker of immediate future action. It combines the preposition 'about' with the infinitive 'to use', indicating something is on the verge of being utilized. This is consistent with Ludwig's AI analysis and exemplified in numerous sentences from the provided data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about to use" is a versatile and frequently used phrase that signifies an action is imminent. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts, ranging from news articles to scientific publications. While its register is mostly neutral, overusing the phrase should be avoided by employing synonyms. As Ludwig AI highlights, alternatives such as "going to use" or "preparing to use" offer similar meanings, allowing for more varied and engaging writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just about to use

Adds a sense of immediacy to the impending action.

on the verge of using

Emphasizes the imminence of the action.

on the brink of using

Similar to 'on the verge', emphasizing closeness to the action.

on the point of using

Highlights the precise moment of readiness.

on the cusp of using

Suggests a transitional moment before use.

going to use

A more informal and direct way of expressing future intention.

intending to use

Focuses on the intention or plan to utilize something.

preparing to use

Highlights the process of getting ready for use.

ready to use

Indicates a state of preparedness for utilization.

on course to use

Conveys a sense of planned progression towards utilization.

FAQs

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

The phrase "about to use" indicates that someone is on the verge of utilizing something. For example, "I am about to use the new software" or "She was about to use her savings".

What are some alternatives to "about to use"?

You can use alternatives like "going to use", "intending to use", or "preparing to use" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "about to used" instead of "about to use"?

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

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

"About to use" suggests a higher degree of immediacy than "going to use". "About to use" implies the action will happen almost immediately, while "going to use" indicates a future intention that may not be as immediate.