anxious to read

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to read" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing eagerness or excitement about reading something, such as a book, article, or report. Example: "I am anxious to read the latest novel by my favorite author."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Mr Tabarrok's fellow blogger, Tyler Cowen, seems anxious to read great portent into this genre of stories, however.

The Economist

He passionately believes people remain anxious to read news of their immediate locality, and in detail - names, faces and places.

The Guardian

You're probably anxious to read it, or, as the case may be, incant it aloud as part of the ritual for one of the cults I started.

The New Yorker

According to a source from North Hamgyong Province, North Koreans were "anxious to read the new book following a blunder in another textbook" which was "withdrawn due to 'distorted propaganda'".

The Guardian

"I fully appreciate that parents will be anxious to read the report and we are keen for them to receive a copy as soon as possible.

BBC

Which made us all the more anxious to read it!

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

By Steven Markow March 12, 2018 We at Axios know that you can only look at the news for a couple seconds before you get too anxious and terrified to read any more, so we've condensed all the most important articles into the fewest words possible.

The New Yorker

We at Axios know that you can only look at the news for a couple seconds before you get too anxious and terrified to read any more, so we've condensed all the most important articles into the fewest words possible.

The New Yorker

Zita replies that if Buoso has left them rich, he can marry whom he pleases; she and the other relatives are anxious to begin reading the will.

Wikipedia

"People were anxious to learn.

The Guardian

Anxious to learn coding before college?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious to read" when you want to express a sense of eagerness mixed with a bit of worry or anticipation. It's suitable when you are both excited and slightly concerned about the content you are about to read.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious to read" if you only want to express excitement or eagerness without any element of worry. In such cases, "eager to read" or "excited to read" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to read" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject. It typically describes a state of anticipation and eagerness, often tinged with a degree of worry or unease. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is used to express a desire to read something while simultaneously feeling some level of concern about its contents.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anxious to read" is a valid and grammatically correct phrase used to express a mixed sentiment of eagerness and worry when anticipating reading something. While Ludwig indicates that this phrase is commonly used in News & Media, it is important to understand its connotation. It's most appropriate when you want to convey both excitement and some level of apprehension. For expressing pure excitement, alternatives such as "eager to read" or "excited to read" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to read

Replaces "anxious" with a more common synonym, "eager", maintaining the same meaning.

keen to read

Substitutes "anxious" with "keen", indicating enthusiasm and interest.

excited to read

Emphasizes a feeling of excitement rather than anxiety, but still conveys anticipation.

looking forward to reading

Uses a more common idiom to express anticipation and pleasure.

can't wait to read

Expresses strong eagerness and impatience to read something.

awaiting with anticipation to read

Adds a sense of formal anticipation, suitable for more formal contexts.

impatience to read

Highlights the feeling of impatience and eagerness.

itching to read

Suggests a strong desire and restlessness to start reading.

yearning to read

Adds a layer of deep longing or desire to read something.

dying to read

Emphasizes an intense eagerness, although it can be considered hyperbolic.

FAQs

What does "anxious to read" mean?

The phrase "anxious to read" means you are eagerly anticipating reading something, often with a mix of excitement and perhaps slight apprehension or worry.

What can I say instead of "anxious to read"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to read", "keen to read", or "excited to read" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "anxious to read" or "eager to read"?

Both phrases are correct, but "eager to read" is generally used for expressing pure excitement, while "anxious to read" implies a mix of excitement and worry. Choose based on the specific emotion you want to express.

How do I use "anxious to read" in a sentence?

You can use "anxious to read" in sentences like, "I am anxious to read the report to see if our project was approved" or "She was anxious to read the letter, hoping it contained good news."