are to compete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are to compete" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a future intention or obligation to participate in a competition or contest. Example: "The top teams in the league are to compete for the championship title next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

All three are to compete Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

If a deal is struck, deeper agricultural reform must follow if Japanese farmers are to compete.

The Economist

THE public hasn't heard of the 25 pianists who are to compete this week in Ridgewood.

The New York Times

And they've just announced that they are to compete in "the Monte Carlo rally".

The Guardian - Film

Now big businesses are to compete for the naming rights to Britain's busiest roads.

The Times

If they are to compete with ordinary universities, MOOC providers must get better at teaching newcomers to academia.

The Economist

In short, Americans are not preparing their children as well as the Chinese are to compete and succeed as adults.

The New York Times

The US players are to compete in an exhibition game against a North Korean team on Wednesday, Kim's birthday.

The Guardian - Sport

"There are a lot of things we have to improve on if we are to compete with England.

The Guardian - Sport

Such cross-pollination of ideas is key if emerging multinationals are to compete successfully with the giants they take on.

Harvard Business Review

But if fuel cells are to compete with other forms of power generation, Mr Freeman insists that manufacturers must trim costs and boost reliability.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are to compete" when you want to indicate a formal or predetermined arrangement. It's particularly fitting for announcements or schedules.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "are to compete" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "are going to compete" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are to compete" functions as a future tense marker combined with an infinitive. It indicates a planned or scheduled action, specifically participating in a competition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are to compete" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as verified by Ludwig AI, employed to indicate a scheduled or planned future participation in a competition. It holds a neutral to formal tone, commonly appearing in news, formal communications, and academic contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to use simpler alternatives like "are going to compete" in informal settings to maintain a natural conversational flow. Remember to use "are to compete" when you need to emphasize a pre-arranged intention to participate in a contest.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are going to compete

Uses a more common and informal future tense construction.

are scheduled to compete

Emphasizes that the competition is part of a pre-arranged plan.

are slated to compete

Similar to "scheduled", but can also imply anticipation or excitement.

are set to compete

Suggests readiness and preparation for the competition.

will be competing

Uses the future continuous tense, highlighting the ongoing nature of the competition.

intend to compete

Focuses on the intention or desire to participate.

plan to compete

Highlights the planning and preparation involved.

aim to compete

Emphasizes the goal or objective of participating in the competition.

aspire to compete

Implies a strong desire or ambition to participate.

seek to compete

Highlights the effort and determination to participate.

FAQs

How can I use "are to compete" in a sentence?

The phrase "are to compete" indicates a future intention or scheduled participation in a contest. For example: "The athletes "are to compete" in the upcoming championship."

What are some alternatives to "are to compete"?

You can use phrases like "are going to compete", "are scheduled to compete", or "are set to compete" as alternatives to "are to compete", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "are to compete" formal or informal?

The phrase "are to compete" leans towards the formal side, suggesting a planned or official arrangement. In more casual settings, using "are going to compete" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "are to compete" and "are competing"?

"Are to compete" typically implies a scheduled or predetermined event, whereas "are competing" suggests an ongoing or current activity. For example, "They "are to compete" next week" versus "They are competing right now".