be about to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be about to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about an impending event or action. For example: "I am about to go on a vacation to the Bahamas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She may be about to get angrier.

The New Yorker

Psychopathy may be about to join it.

The Economist

Still, things may be about to change.

The New York Times

That might be about to change.

The New York Times

Greece may be about to join them.

Independent

That could be about to change, however.

The Economist

But that might be about to change.

The New York Times

But things could be about to change.

Independent

He may be about to lash out.

The New Yorker

All that may be about to change.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He was about to.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be about to" to create a sense of anticipation or immediacy in your writing. For instance, instead of saying "The meeting will start soon", say "The meeting is about to start" to convey a feeling of something happening right now.

Common error

Avoid using "be about to" with past tenses unless referring to a future event from a past perspective. For example, it's incorrect to say "I was be about to leave". Instead, say "I was about to leave".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be about to" functions as an auxiliary verb construction indicating imminent future action. As demonstrated by Ludwig and its examples, it modifies verbs to express that something is on the immediate horizon. For instance, "She is about to get angrier" signals an impending state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be about to" is a versatile and frequently used construction to denote imminent future actions. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and primarily employed in news and media contexts to signal anticipation. When writing, use "be about to" to add immediacy and avoid using it in past tenses incorrectly. Alternative phrases like "on the verge of" or "going to" can provide slight variations in meaning. With a high expert rating, mastering this phrase can enhance your writing by adding a sense of urgency and expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to

A shortened version of the original phrase, maintaining the same meaning with slightly less formality.

on the verge of

Indicates being very close to experiencing something, emphasizing the proximity of the event.

on the point of

Implies an action is just about to happen, often suggesting a decision has been made.

poised to

Suggests readiness and anticipation for an upcoming action or event, often implying elegance or control.

on the brink of

Suggests a critical or decisive moment is approaching, often with significant consequences.

set to

Indicates that preparations have been made and an event is scheduled to occur imminently.

on the cusp of

Indicates being on the edge of a significant change or event.

ready to

Highlights preparedness and intention to perform an action imminently.

going to

A common and straightforward way to express a future action that is expected to happen soon.

due to

Implies an event is scheduled or expected at a certain time, often by official arrangement.

FAQs

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

Use "be about to" followed by a verb in its base form to indicate that something will happen very soon. For example, "She is about to start her presentation" or "They are about to announce the winner".

What can I say instead of "be about to"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of", "on the point of", or "going to" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "be about to" or "being about to"?

"Be about to" is the correct form to indicate an imminent action. "Being about to" is grammatically incorrect in this context. For example, "I am about to leave" is correct, while "I am being about to leave" is incorrect.

Is there a difference between "be about to" and "will"?

Yes, "be about to" implies a higher degree of immediacy than "will". While "will" simply indicates a future action, "be about to" suggests that the action will happen almost immediately. For example, "I will leave" means I'll leave sometime in the future, whereas "I am about to leave" means I'm leaving right now.