he was set to

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "he was set to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used when referring to someone being ready or prepared to do something. For example: - He was set to give a presentation at the conference. - After months of training, she was finally set to compete in the marathon. - The actors were all set to perform the opening night of the play. - The politician was set to announce his resignation at the press conference. - Despite her nerves, she was still determined to be set to take the exam tomorrow.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was set to be arraigned on Thursday.

The New York Times

Pop was anxious, but he was set to go — determined.

The New Yorker

He was set to go to Tufts in the fall.

The New York Times - Books

He was set to earn $3.7 million next season.

The New York Times - Sports

He was set to start serving a two-year sentence on Jan . 8

The New York Times

In 1989, he was set to go to China for two years to teach.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

He was set to attend Harvard in the fall of 2012.

TechCrunch

Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe was fired two days before he was set to retire.

Huffington Post

Alberto Contador, the Tour de France champion, said he was set to join the Astana team.

The New York Times

Bellamy's absences had fuelled speculation he was set to retire after 70 caps and 19 goals.

BBC

He was set to take the test for his G.E.D.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was set to", confirm that the subject had taken concrete steps or made definite arrangements toward the planned action.

Common error

Avoid using "he was set to" if the plans were merely hypothetical or lacked concrete arrangements. Instead, consider using "he hoped to" or "he wished to" to better reflect the speculative nature of the plan.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was set to" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of readiness or a planned action. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, showing that it describes someone being prepared or scheduled for a future event. It often precedes an infinitive verb, specifying the action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was set to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone was prepared or scheduled to do something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it conveys a sense of readiness or planned action. While alternatives like "he was going to" or "he was about to" exist, "he was set to" offers a slightly more formal tone. Remember to use it when there's a reasonable expectation that the planned action was highly likely to occur. Overall it is a useful, reliable, and widespread phrase for communicating intentions and preparations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was about to

Indicates immediate imminence; the action was on the verge of happening.

he was going to

Expresses a future intention or plan, similar to being set to do something.

he was scheduled to

Highlights that the action was officially planned or arranged.

he was prepared to

Emphasizes the readiness and willingness to undertake an action.

he was ready to

Focuses on the state of being completely equipped and available for an action.

he intended to

Highlights the person's purpose or aim, showing what they planned to do.

he was poised to

Suggests being in a strategic position, ready for a significant action.

he was on the point of

Similar to "about to", indicating the action was just about to occur.

he was in line to

Suggests that he was next or had earned an expectation to receive or do something.

he was slated to

Formally arranged or scheduled for something, often implying a public listing.

FAQs

What does "he was set to" mean?

The phrase "he was set to" indicates that someone was prepared, ready, or scheduled to do something. It implies a strong expectation or plan for a future event.

How can I use "he was set to" in a sentence?

You can use "he was set to" to describe someone's readiness for an event, such as "He was set to graduate in the spring". Or to indicate an intended action, as in "He was set to leave the country".

What can I say instead of "he was set to"?

You can use alternatives like "he was going to", "he was about to", or "he was scheduled to depending on the context".

Is there a difference between "he was set to" and "he was supposed to"?

While both phrases indicate a future event, "he was set to" suggests greater certainty and preparation, whereas "he was supposed to" might imply a weaker obligation or expectation. Often the first is tied to a preparation stage (he was set to leave = he had prepared for leaving), while the latter is more about external duties (he was supposed to leave = someone requested him to leave).