heading to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"heading to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a location or destination. For example: "I'm heading to work now," he said as he picked up his briefcase.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

These drivers are people with jobs heading to work.

The New York Times

Kevin came over for a quick goodbye before heading to work.

The New York Times

I'll spend the day with the family before heading to work.

Independent

No doubt, a rush hour crowd like this, heading to work, was not about to panic.

The New York Times

The violence here began early on Tuesday, while many Iraqis were heading to work.

The New York Times

The entrance was crowded with visitors and security guards heading to work.

The New York Times

Then pop a day's worth of vitamins and supplements, courtesy of Twinlab, before heading to work.

The New York Times

One victim went against the tide, heading to work on the island instead of heading home.

The New York Times

It became normal to bump into a strike here or there while heading to work.

The Guardian - Opinion

Another woman, an immigrant from El Salvador, said she was glad to be heading to work.

The New York Times

For now, she fits in her training at 4 45 a.m., before heading to work.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heading to work" to describe the act of starting a journey with the destination being one's workplace, regardless of the mode of transport. For example: "I'm heading to work by train today."

Common error

Avoid using "headed to work" when the action is ongoing or planned in the present. "Headed to work" implies a completed action or a past intention. Instead, use "heading to work" to indicate the present continuous action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heading to work" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of going to one's place of employment. As supported by Ludwig, this usage is both correct and widely employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heading to work" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the act of going to one's workplace. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it leans toward a neutral register, being frequently found in news and media sources. The phrase's primary function is to inform or announce one's departure or ongoing journey to work. While alternatives such as "going to work" or "commuting to work" exist, "heading to work" remains a versatile and widely understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going to work

A more general term for the act of traveling to one's job.

commuting to work

Specifically implies a regular journey between one's home and workplace.

on my way to work

Indicates that the speaker is currently in the process of traveling to work.

traveling to work

Similar to commuting, but can also encompass less frequent journeys.

making my way to work

Suggests effort or a more challenging journey to the workplace.

off to work

An informal and concise way to express that one is leaving for work.

setting off for work

Suggests the beginning of a journey to one's workplace.

punching the clock

An idiomatic expression referring to the act of starting one's workday.

reporting for duty

Often used in military or formal contexts to indicate starting one's work.

starting my shift

Specifies the commencement of a defined work period.

FAQs

How do I use "heading to work" in a sentence?

You can use "heading to work" to describe the action of going to your workplace. For example, "I am "heading to work" now, see you later!" or "She is "heading to work" early today."

What can I say instead of "heading to work"?

Alternatives to "heading to work" include "going to work", "commuting to work", or "on my way to work", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Which is correct, "heading to work" or "headed to work"?

"Heading to work" is used for ongoing or future actions, while "headed to work" implies a past action. For example, "I am "heading to work" now," versus "I "headed to work" an hour ago."

Is "heading to work" formal or informal?

"Heading to work" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "commuting to work" may be preferable in professional settings.