forward to coming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forward to coming" is not correct and usable in written English. It is unclear and lacks proper grammatical structure. An example could be: "I look forward to coming to the event." Alternative expressions include "looking forward to" and "eager to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Looking forward to coming home in June?

The New York Times

"She was really looking forward to coming.

The New York Times

I look forward to coming here, man.

The New York Times

I look forward to coming back.

The New York Times - Sports

"He was looking forward to coming back".

The New York Times

We look forward to coming back".

The New York Times

I'm looking forward to coming back this season".

The New York Times - Sports

It's the reason I look forward to coming to work.

The Guardian

"They look forward to coming back to their rooms".

The New York Times

People look forward to coming to 'events,' not just concerts".

The New York Times

They said they are looking forward to coming home.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the gerund form 'coming' after the preposition 'to' in the phrase 'look forward to'. The word 'to' here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so it must be followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing.

Common error

Do not write 'look forward to come'. This is a frequent mistake for non-native speakers who treat the entire phrase as an infinitive marker. Remember that you are looking forward TO something (the arrival), which requires the gerund form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forward to coming" serves as a prepositional phrase fragment that typically functions as the direct object of the phrasal verb look forward. In Ludwig examples, it is consistently used to indicate a state of anticipation. The word to acts as a preposition, which is why it is followed by the gerund coming rather than the infinitive form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "forward to coming" is an essential component of the English language's most common way to express anticipation. While it is technically a fragment, Ludwig data shows it appearing in 60 high-quality instances across major global publications like The New York Times and the BBC. The most critical rule to remember is that it must follow the verb look or looking and use the gerund form coming—using the infinitive to come is a frequent grammatical error. Whether you are writing a professional email or a casual note, this phrase remains a reliable way to show enthusiasm for a future arrival.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look forward to seeing

Uses a different sensory verb to focus on the visual meeting rather than the act of arrival.

anticipate arriving

Shifts to a more formal verb choice and removes the prepositional 'to' structure.

excited to come

Replaces the idiomatic phrasal verb with an adjective-plus-infinitive structure for more direct emotion.

looking forward to attending

Uses a more formal verb 'attending' which is better suited for professional events or ceremonies.

eager to return

Specifically emphasizes the desire to go back to a place previously visited.

can't wait to get

Provides a significantly more informal and high-energy idiomatic alternative.

expecting to be

Changes the tone from emotional anticipation to a more neutral statement of scheduled fact.

waiting to come

Focuses on the state of readiness or the passage of time before the event occurs.

keen to visit

Uses a characteristically British adjective to express interest in the destination.

happy to join

Focuses on the positive emotion associated with participating in a group or event.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "forward to coming"?

Yes, it is correct when used as part of the full idiom, such as in "I'm looking forward to coming" or "we look forward to coming". Standing alone, it is a phrase fragment.

Can I use "forward to come" instead?

No, you should avoid "forward to come". In the idiom 'look forward to', the word 'to' is a preposition and must be followed by the gerund 'coming'.

What is a more formal alternative to "forward to coming"?

A more formal alternative would be "anticipate arriving" or "look forward to attending" if you are referring to an event.

Is "looking forward to coming" too informal for business?

No, it is a perfectly acceptable and standard phrase for professional correspondence. If you want more variety, you could use "eager to visit" or "excited about joining".