forthcoming birthday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forthcoming birthday" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an upcoming or approaching birthday event. Example: "I am excited to celebrate my forthcoming birthday with friends and family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

According to Shutterfly, the MoPho mobile application will be rebranded and updated over the next few months and will be added to Shutterfly's current mobile application line-up which already includes the Shutterfly iPhone and iPad apps, as well as the forthcoming birthday card app called Treat, arriving on iOS in days.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

To make up for the heartache that our son probably wasn't going to be the first of his friends to lose a tooth, we sat down with him and made a list of the things he definitely can look forward to on each of his forthcoming birthdays.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Among the tributes paid to Sir Peter Hall in this paper yesterday to mark his forthcoming 80th birthday, Ian McKellen's stood out for me.

Independent

Moss, 41, was met by police at Luton airport on Sunday after easyJet staff claimed she was disruptive on the flight from Bodrum, where she had been attending celebrations for her friend Sadie Frost's forthcoming 50th birthday.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

From Broadway's prodigious boy wonder to its beloved aging monarch: For Stephen Sondheim, whose forthcoming 80th birthday on March 22 was celebrated in a thrilling concert at Avery Fisher Hall on Monday evening, it must have seemed like a hop, skip and a jump from one to the other.

The New York Times - Arts

The Queen's forthcoming 90th birthday inspired the litter campaign, launched by Country Life and now supported by a group of charities that endorse its proposal that nothing is more likely than the Queen's happiness finally to reform a nation of determined litterers, another cultural habit overlooked by the Heathrow guide.

The Guardian - Opinion

The latest chapter, entitled 'Letters to Jack', was presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on the occasion of the forthcoming 100th birthday of President Kennedy.

Huffington Post

In April, I declined an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the forthcoming Queen's birthday honours list.

The Guardian - Opinion

Toole was onstage introducing a preview of the forthcoming short film "Happy Birthday, Marsha!" and a lecture by the film's directors, Reina Gossett and Sasha Wortzel.

The New Yorker

No such present appears to be forthcoming, but here's a substitute: Happy Birthday, George.

The New York Times - Sports

A new portrait of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh has been unveiled to mark the Queen's forthcoming Diamond Jubilee and the Duke's 90th birthday.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forthcoming birthday" when you want to sound slightly more formal than using "upcoming birthday". This phrase is suitable for written communication, especially in news or official contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "forthcoming birthday" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "upcoming birthday" or "next birthday" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forthcoming birthday" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "forthcoming" modifies the noun "birthday". According to Ludwig, it correctly describes a birthday that is approaching or imminent. The one real-world example Ludwig provides from TechCrunch exemplifies this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forthcoming birthday" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an approaching birthday. According to Ludwig, it's more formal than alternatives like "upcoming birthday" or "next birthday" and, therefore, more suitable for formal writing. While correct, this phrase is not very common, as Ludwig found a limited number of examples primarily from news and media contexts. When writing, consider your audience and the desired tone before choosing "forthcoming birthday" over its simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upcoming birthday

Replaces "forthcoming" with "upcoming", a more common and direct synonym.

approaching birthday

Uses "approaching" instead of "forthcoming", conveying a sense of nearness.

next birthday

Simply specifies the immediately following birthday.

imminent birthday

Substitutes "forthcoming" with "imminent", suggesting the birthday is very close.

impending birthday

Uses "impending" to highlight that the birthday is about to happen.

near birthday

A simplified version using "near" to indicate proximity in time.

soon-to-be birthday

Emphasizes the impending nature of the birthday.

ensuing birthday

Replaces "forthcoming" with "ensuing", referring to something that follows immediately.

prospective birthday

Highlights that birthday is expected to happen in the future.

birthday in the offing

Uses the idiom "in the offing" to mean "likely to happen soon".

FAQs

What does "forthcoming birthday" mean?

The phrase "forthcoming birthday" refers to a birthday that is approaching or about to happen. It's a slightly more formal way of saying "upcoming birthday" or "next birthday".

When should I use "forthcoming birthday" instead of "upcoming birthday"?

Use "forthcoming birthday" in more formal writing or when a slightly elevated tone is desired. In everyday conversation or informal contexts, "upcoming birthday" is generally more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to "forthcoming birthday"?

Some alternatives to "forthcoming birthday" include "upcoming birthday", "approaching birthday", "imminent birthday", and "next birthday". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "forthcoming birthday" grammatically correct?

Yes, "forthcoming birthday" is grammatically correct. "Forthcoming" is an adjective that means "about to appear or happen", and it can be used to modify the noun "birthday".