going to sleep

USAGE SUMMARY

"going to sleep" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in any context in which someone is about to retire for the night or take a nap. For example, "I'm so tired from this long day. I'm going to sleep now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Going to sleep now".

The New York Times

He's not going to sleep".

The New York Times

By going to sleep.

The Guardian

I dread going to sleep tonight.

The New Yorker

I'm going to sleep downstairs".

The New York Times - Magazine

"They're all going to sleep".

The New York Times

I wasn't going to sleep.

The New York Times - Magazine

I was going to sleep".

The New York Times - Arts

Just before going to sleep.

The New York Times - Books

I'm really big on going to sleep.

The New York Times

The city was going to sleep.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialogue, use "going to sleep" to indicate a character's intention to rest, reflecting natural speech patterns.

Common error

In formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "retiring for the night" or "preparing for slumber" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going to sleep" functions as a present participle phrase, indicating an action in progress or a future intention. It serves to describe the act of transitioning into a state of sleep, as exemplified by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

24%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

HuffPost

7%

Los Angeles Times

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "going to sleep" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action or intention of transitioning into a state of slumber. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for general use, but it can be less formal than alternatives such as "retiring for the night". Analysis of numerous examples reveals its prevalence in news articles, WikiHow guides, and various other contexts. While versatile, it's essential to consider the intended audience and context to ensure the most appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going to bed

A direct synonym, simply stating the act of going to bed.

drifting off to sleep

Emphasizes the gradual and gentle transition into sleep.

time for bed

Indicates that it's the appropriate or scheduled time to go to sleep.

retiring for the night

Implies a more formal or traditional sense of ending the day and preparing for sleep.

preparing to sleep

Focuses on the actions taken before entering a state of sleep.

turning in

A slightly more casual and old-fashioned way of saying going to bed.

nodding off

Suggests falling asleep unintentionally or lightly.

hitting the hay

An informal idiom for going to bed, often implying tiredness.

about to slumber

Uses a more poetic or literary term for sleep.

off to dreamland

A whimsical and imaginative expression for going to sleep.

FAQs

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

You can use "going to sleep" to express the intention to sleep, such as "I am tired, so I'm "going to sleep" now" or "The baby is finally "going to sleep" after a long day".

What are some alternatives to "going to sleep"?

Alternatives include "going to bed", "retiring for the night", "drifting off to sleep", or simply "sleeping", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is "going to sleep" formal or informal?

"Going to sleep" is generally considered informal and suitable for everyday conversation. In more formal settings, you might prefer phrases like "retiring for the night" or "preparing for slumber".

What's the difference between "going to sleep" and "going to bed"?

While similar, "going to sleep" focuses more on the process of falling asleep, whereas "going to bed" emphasizes the action of physically going to bed. They are often interchangeable, but "going to sleep" can sometimes imply an immediate intention to fall asleep.