be planning

USAGE SUMMARY

“be planning” is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used in the present progressive tense, in order to indicate an ongoing action. For example: "We are planning to travel to Europe next year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You must be planning ahead.

The New York Times

He may be planning this again.

The Economist

We need to be planning that now".

The Guardian

But could she be planning something else?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Might he be planning a bigger move?

The New York Times

We should be planning that now.

The Guardian

"Lawyers may be planning something," he added.

The Guardian

I might be planning, or venting frustrations.

The Guardian

Hitachi is rumoured to be planning something similarly distant.

The Economist

She is going to be planning the election campaign.

Independent

And it suggests that India might be planning military reprisals.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be planning", ensure the tense is consistent. For future events, use "will be planning" or "are planning" for near future arrangements.

Common error

Avoid mixing future and present tenses when using "be planning". For instance, don't say "They will be planning the event yesterday"; instead, use a past tense construction like "They were planning the event yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be planning" primarily functions as a verb phrase used to form the continuous aspect of the verb. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction correctly indicates ongoing or future intentions. It describes actions that are currently in the process of being planned or will be planned in the future.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Wiki

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be planning" is a versatile and grammatically sound verb phrase used to denote actions that are currently in the process of being planned or will be planned in the future. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used and generally regarded as correct. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, including news, informal conversation and formal communication. When using "be planning", maintain consistent tense and consider related phrases like "intend to" or "expect to" for nuanced meaning. By following these guidelines, you can confidently incorporate "be planning" into your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intend to

This alternative focuses on the intention or purpose behind an action, rather than the active planning process.

expect to

This suggests an anticipation of something happening, often based on planning or preparation.

aim to

Focuses on the goal or objective one is trying to achieve through their actions.

schedule to

This emphasizes the arrangement of an event or activity in a specific time frame.

arrange to

This highlights the process of organizing or preparing for an event.

prepare to

This indicates readiness and anticipation of an upcoming event.

contemplate

This suggests a more thoughtful consideration, often implying a future action.

consider

Implies a more general evaluation without necessarily planning an action.

designing

Emphasizes the creation and structuring aspect of planning.

developing

Highlights the gradual and progressive nature of planning something.

FAQs

How can I use "be planning" in a sentence?

You can use "be planning" to describe ongoing or future plans. For example, "They "are planning" a surprise party" or "We "will be planning" our vacation next week".

What are some alternatives to "be planning"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "intend to", "expect to", or "are considering" as alternatives to "be planning".

Is it correct to say "are plan" instead of "are planning"?

No, "are plan" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""are planning"", which uses the present continuous tense to indicate an ongoing or future action.

What is the difference between "planning" and "be planning"?

"Planning" generally refers to the activity of making plans, while "be planning" indicates the ongoing or future action of making plans. For example, "The planning stage is crucial" versus "We "are planning" the event now".