going to say

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going to say" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate what someone intends to express or communicate in the future. Example: "I was going to say that we should consider a different approach to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Going to say.

The New Yorker

He's probably going to say no".

The New York Times

"Who is going to say anything?

The New Yorker

"I was going to say something.

The New York Times

Are you going to say "Come in"?

The New Yorker

And who is going to say anything?

The New York Times

When are going to say enough?

The New York Times

He was going to say something awful.

The New Yorker

PL: I was going to say that.

The New York Times

I was going to say him, too".

The New Yorker

How are you going to say it?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "going to say" to clearly indicate a future intention to speak or express something.

Common error

Avoid overusing "going to say" in formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "intending to state" or "preparing to articulate" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "going to say" is to express a future intention or planned action of speaking. It indicates what someone intends to communicate verbally, as demonstrated by the examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "going to say" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a future intention to speak. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, media, and general conversation, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in professional or academic writing. When using "going to say", ensure that the context aligns with the intended level of formality, and consider alternatives such as "intending to express" or "about to state" for more formal situations. Remember that while contractions like "gonna say" are acceptable in informal speech, they should be avoided in formal writing. In short, this phrase has the primary function of setting expectations about what is about to be spoken.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to state

Emphasizes the imminence of the verbal expression.

intending to express

Focuses on the intention behind the upcoming statement.

planning to articulate

Highlights the preparation or planning involved in formulating the statement.

on the verge of uttering

Suggests being very close to making a statement.

contemplating to mention

Implies considering whether to bring something up in conversation.

preparing to voice

Highlights the act of getting ready to speak.

thinking of remarking

Suggests a thought process leading to a potential comment.

aiming to communicate

Focuses on the goal of conveying a message.

proposing to declare

Implies a formal or decisive announcement.

set to announce

Indicates a scheduled or predetermined declaration.

FAQs

How can I use "going to say" in a sentence?

"Going to say" is used to express a future intention to speak. For example, "I was "about to say" that we need to address this issue immediately."

What are some alternatives to "going to say"?

Alternatives include "intending to express", "planning to articulate", or "about to state" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "gonna say" instead of "going to say"?

"Gonna say" is an informal contraction of "going to say" and is acceptable in casual conversation but should be avoided in formal writing.

What is the difference between "going to say" and "about to say"?

"Going to say" implies a future intention, while "about to say" suggests that the action is imminent. They are similar, but "about to say" indicates a more immediate timeframe.