expects

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expects" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a belief or assumption that something will happen or be the case in the future. Example: Jane expects to finish her internship in two months.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jenkins has already let it be known that he expects the 140,000 global workforce of Barclays – which includes high street banking, investment banking and fund management – to fall to 100,000 over the years as new technology replaces jobs.

The Guardian - Business

"The public rightly expects all ONS releases to reflect the facts accurately, given its role as a trusted and respected institution.

The Guardian

The budget documents suggest that the government expects it to take people a while to save enough to be in a position to buy – spending on the policy is forecast to be £45m in the current tax year, increasing to £835m in 2019-20.

The Guardian - Money

He expects to draw extensively on his previous role as chief executive of 3SC, which manages bids and delivery consortia for large public sector contracts.

The Guardian

Not only does the budget predict that unemployment in June this year will be as high as 6.0% (a rise of 0.2% from its current position), it also expects unemployment to rise to 6.25% and stay there right the way through to June 2016.

The Guardian - Business

The Guardian understands City Hall privately expects the sale to go through before Christmas.

The Guardian

Germany also still expects to post growth of 1.6% in 2013.

The Guardian - Business

Szustow expects Dramatyczny's repertoire to become more "accessible" and she is considering moving to another theatre.

The Guardian

She is honest, and expects the same from those around her.

The Guardian

For the first time in his life, Nick expects to vote Labour.

The Guardian

With Xybernaut it has developed the first Wearable Internet Appliance (WIA) for the consumer market, and expects to have it on sale in the US before Christmas for less than $2,000.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expects" to convey a sense of anticipation or likelihood based on current evidence or understanding. Be sure the subject logically aligns with the expectation being described.

Common error

Avoid using "expects" with inanimate subjects that cannot logically hold expectations. For example, instead of saying "The report expects economic growth", rephrase it to "The report forecasts economic growth" or "Analysts expect economic growth based on the report".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expects" is that of a transitive verb in the third-person singular present tense. It signifies that the subject anticipates or believes that something will occur or be the case. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and acceptable usage. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "expects" is a transitive verb used to express anticipation, belief, or prediction about a future event, commonly employed in the third-person singular present tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts. "Expects" is frequently encountered in News & Media sources, followed by Formal & Business settings. While generally neutral in tone, its usage can become more formal depending on the context. To ensure clarity, avoid using "expects" with inanimate subjects that cannot hold expectations. Alternative phrases include "anticipates", "predicts", and "assumes", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipates

Similar in meaning, but often used in more formal contexts.

foresees

Implies seeing or knowing something in advance.

predicts

Focuses more on forecasting or foretelling a future event.

projects

Often used in business contexts to indicate estimated future figures.

assumes

Suggests a belief without concrete evidence.

believes

Indicates a firm conviction about a future outcome.

is confident that

Emphasizes a strong degree of certainty.

is counting on

Suggests reliance on a specific outcome or event.

awaits

Focuses on waiting for something that is expected to happen.

looks forward to

Expresses anticipation with pleasure or excitement.

FAQs

How to use "expects" in a sentence?

Use "expects" to indicate that someone believes something will happen in the future. For example, "The company expects to increase its profits next quarter".

What can I say instead of "expects"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipates", "predicts", or "assumes" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "expects to" or "expects that"?

"Expects to" is used when the subject of the expectation is the same as the subject of the action. "Expects that" is used when the subjects are different. For example, "She expects to win" versus "She expects that he will win".

What's the difference between "expects" and "hopes"?

"Expects" implies a reasonable belief based on evidence or prior experience, while "hopes" expresses a desire or wish for something to happen, often without strong evidence.