anxious to speak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to speak" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing eagerness or a strong desire to communicate or have a conversation with someone. Example: "She was anxious to speak with her mentor about her career plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I said I was anxious to speak with him.

The New Yorker

One man was anxious to speak with his wife, who was motoring East fromChicago.

The New Yorker

The stewards were meeting to assess the situation and they and Mercedes were anxious to speak to both drivers.

The Guardian - Sport

John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said he hoped the new Labour top team was "as anxious to speak to us as we are to them".

The Guardian - Business

Some come confidently: anxious to speak publicly about their lives, in particular, about the Groundhog Day of their detention in the "transit centre" from where there is no transit.

The Guardian

I got a call a few months ago from Ellicott's CEO, he was anxious to speak with me about an article I had written about the brand.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

As evidenced by Mrs. Clinton's cooperation throughout the inquiry and her anxious desire to speak with the Justice Department and the FBI, which finally occurred last weekend for some three hours, the Secretary could hardly be said to be obstructing justice.

Huffington Post

The most likely action of the respondents if they became anxious was to speak to their GP (70.8% of respondents from affluent areas, 72.4% of respondents from deprived areas), contact hospital specialist (60.6 vs 67.1) or speak to family or friends (50.8 vs 53.4%).

British Journal of Cancer

"Some, and you may be one, will be anxious to accept speaking engagements as surrogates for their husbands," the pamphlet states.

Huffington Post

At the first, in Orangeburg, S.C., she sat frozen in the audience, so anxious she was unable to speak.

The New York Times

Mrs. Clinton's supporters, in particular, are anxious for the Edwardses to speak up about whom they support.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious to speak" when you want to convey a sense of eagerness mixed with some nervousness or concern about speaking. It's suitable when the speaker has a strong desire to communicate but may also feel apprehensive.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious" solely to mean "eager" if there's no element of worry or apprehension. If you simply want to express enthusiasm without any undertones of anxiety, use alternatives like "eager to", "keen to", or "excited to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to speak" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a state of being both eager and somewhat worried about communicating something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anxious to speak" effectively conveys a blend of eagerness and nervousness about communicating, and Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical standing. While grammatical and widely understood, "anxious" is occasionally misused as an exact synonym of "eager" so pay attention to the context. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts. When a more positive or purely enthusiastic tone is desired, alternatives such as "eager to speak" or "keen to talk" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to speak

Emphasizes enthusiasm and eagerness rather than anxiety, suggesting a positive anticipation for speaking.

keen to talk

Similar to "eager", this conveys a strong desire to converse, differing slightly in tone.

desirous of speaking

A more formal way of expressing a wish to speak, implying a polite or respectful approach.

longing to converse

Suggests a deep yearning to have a conversation, highlighting the emotional aspect.

wanting to address

Focuses on the intention to speak to a group or address a particular issue.

craving to say

Emphasizes a strong, almost irresistible urge to speak one's mind.

yearning to express

Similar to 'longing', this highlights the emotional need to communicate feelings or thoughts.

itching to utter

Implies a restless impatience to speak, suggesting a pent-up need for expression.

impelled to communicate

Conveys a sense of being driven or compelled to share information or ideas.

ready to articulate

Focuses on the preparation and willingness to clearly express oneself.

FAQs

How can I use "anxious to speak" in a sentence?

You can use "anxious to speak" to describe someone who is both eager and slightly nervous about communicating. For example, "The defendant was "anxious to speak" in his own defense, hoping to clear his name".

What's a more positive alternative to "anxious to speak"?

If you want to express eagerness without the anxiety, consider using "eager to speak" or "keen to talk". These phrases emphasize enthusiasm rather than apprehension.

Is it grammatically correct to say "anxious to speak"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The construction "anxious + to + verb" is a standard way to express eagerness or worry about doing something.

What's the difference between "anxious to speak" and "anxious about speaking"?

"Anxious to speak" implies a desire to speak combined with some apprehension. "Anxious about speaking", on the other hand, focuses more on the anxiety related to the act of speaking itself, potentially due to fear of public speaking or saying the wrong thing.