en route to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "en route to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone or something is on the way to a destination. For example: "We stopped for lunch en route to London."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

and M.A. (en route to the Ph.D.).

Yale University

M.A. (en route to the Ph.D.).

Yale University

En route to Florida, the boat sank, drowning 11 people.

The New York Times

En route to the bathroom, he sees George's Jasper Johns.

The New Yorker

En route to the basket she drew a foul.

The New York Times - Sports

En route to #Davos.

Huffington Post

En route to France, we discuss the tour video.

Vice

Greetings from en route to Marjah.

The New Yorker

Now he's en route to Brussels.

The New Yorker

He died en route to the hospital.

The New Yorker

He died en route to a hospital.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "en route to" to add a touch of formality and precision when describing a journey or progression toward a specific location or goal. For example: "The package is "en route to" its destination."

Common error

Avoid using "in route to" as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "en route to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "en route to" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate direction or movement towards a specific location or goal. Ludwig examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, reinforcing its role in specifying a path or course of action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

25%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "en route to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that indicates direction or movement toward a specific destination. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers numerous examples demonstrating its use across various contexts, including news, academia, and general communication. When writing, remember that the correct form is "en route to", not "in route to", and consider alternatives like "on the way to" or "heading towards" for variety. The phrase is generally neutral to formal, making it suitable for a wide range of writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

On the way to

Indicates a similar meaning, focusing on the physical journey or progression toward a place.

Heading towards

Emphasizes direction and movement in a specific direction.

Traveling to

Focuses on the act of travel and the destination.

In transit to

Highlights the state of being in the process of moving to a location.

Bound for

Suggests a planned or destined arrival at a particular place.

Progressing toward

Implies a forward movement or advancement towards a specific goal or destination.

Moving in the direction of

A more descriptive way to indicate the path or course being taken.

On course for

Indicates that progress is being made according to a planned route or schedule.

Making headway towards

Emphasizes the effort and progress involved in reaching a destination.

Advancing to

Focuses on the progression and forward movement toward a specific point.

FAQs

How to use "en route to" in a sentence?

"En route to" indicates that someone or something is on the way to a destination. For instance, "We stopped for coffee "en route to" the airport".

What can I say instead of "en route to"?

You can use alternatives like "on the way to", "heading towards", or "traveling to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in route to" instead of "en route to"?

No, "in route to" is incorrect. The correct phrase is "en route to", which comes from French and means 'on the way'.

What's the difference between "en route to" and "bound for"?

"En route to" simply means 'on the way to', while "bound for" suggests a planned or destined arrival. "En route to" focuses on the process of traveling, and "bound for" emphasizes the intended destination.