coming

USAGE SUMMARY

"coming" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a verb when talking about an action that is happening in the future, like "I'm coming to visit you next week," or to make the continuous tense of a verb, like "We are coming for dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Music

Film

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sadly, it is typical of the smears coming from those who would rather not debate policy and substance".

The Guardian

"Determining where this capital is spent needs to be an important issue for investors, otherwise there is going to be a lot of capital wasted in coming years on developing fossil fuel reserves that cannot be burned".

The Guardian

"So I'm guessing you're coming up a little short in the 'good role model' department.

The Guardian

"Winter is coming.

The Guardian

IT HAS been a long time coming.

The New York Times

Didn't see that coming".

The New York Times

Keep them coming.

The New York Times

"This has been a long time coming," Obama said.

The Guardian

"There was a group of us who had dinner together on a Tuesday night [at parliament] … I was sitting beside Mr Obeid at the time and was told 'Keep away from Ms Schott – they're coming after her,' " Costa said.

The Guardian

"The parents were hoping he would come with some information for them about where the girls may be and what efforts are being done to recover them, but instead to be told he is not coming was not easy for them.

The Guardian

Sadly it is typical of the smears coming from those who would rather not debate policy and substance," Shapps said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "coming" with prepositions to create dynamic descriptions of movement, such as "coming from" or "coming to".

Common error

While "coming" is versatile, avoid overuse in formal contexts. Consider more precise alternatives like "approaching", "forthcoming", or specific verbs to enhance clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

"Coming" functions primarily as a verb, specifically as the present participle of the verb "come". It is also used as an adjective to describe something approaching. Ludwig AI indicates it is a correct and usable word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

15%

Music

10%

Less common in

Film

8%

Lifestyle

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "coming" is a versatile word with a wide range of applications, primarily functioning as a verb and adjective to denote approaching events or movement toward a destination. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It is prevalent in news and media, sports, and music, and maintains a neutral register suitable for both informal and formal communication. When aiming for clarity and precision in writing, especially in formal settings, consider alternatives like "approaching", "forthcoming", or other context-specific verbs. The use of "coming" in a sentence can have very subtle differences, so pay close attention to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approaching

Focuses on the nearness of something in time or space, similar to "coming" in its future aspect.

arriving

Emphasizes the act of reaching a destination, similar to one aspect of "coming".

upcoming

Specifically refers to events that are about to happen, aligning with the future tense use of "coming".

forthcoming

Highlights the readiness or availability of something in the near future, a more formal version of "coming".

on the way

Indicates movement towards a destination, often used informally.

in the pipeline

Refers to something that is being developed or prepared and will be available in the future.

nearing

Describes the process of getting closer to a specific point or time.

drawing near

Similar to "nearing" but often used to describe significant events or times.

advancing

Implies progress or movement forward, similar to "coming" in the sense of progressing towards a goal.

materializing

Suggests something becoming real or visible, often after a period of planning or anticipation.

FAQs

How is "coming" used as an adjective?

As an adjective, "coming" describes something approaching or forthcoming, like "the coming election" or "the coming winter". It refers to the near future.

What is the difference between "coming" and "arriving"?

"Coming" suggests movement towards a place or time, while "arriving" indicates the completion of that movement. You are "coming" until you "arrive".

Can I use "coming" to describe something from the past?

No, "coming" generally refers to the future or the present progressive. To describe something from the past, use "having come" or other past tense constructions.

What are some alternatives to "Winter is coming"?

Alternatives that capture the same sense of foreboding include "Winter approaches", "Winter is "impending"", or "Winter is "drawing near"".