how things will pan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how things will pan" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "how things will pan out"? You can use it when discussing future events or outcomes, particularly in uncertain situations. Example: "I'm not sure how things will pan out with the new project, but I'm hopeful for a positive result."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Every move, every comment is scrutinised as people want to see how things will pan out.

The Guardian

The question now, of course, is how things will pan out if the Directioners become philosophised.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I've not spoken to the manager about next season so I don't know how things will pan out.

The Guardian - Sport

It's clear that momentous events are afoot; there are all kinds of conflicting rumours and theories, but nobody knows how things will pan out.

The Guardian - Tech

Now pregnant with her second child, Jones has decided to give up her job, but is worried about how things will pan out financially for her family.

The Guardian - Money

The negotiations are either going to be done in a week or two or it might take until July – you just don't know how things will pan out.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Holding on to expectations of how everything should work or how things will pan-out only causes stress.

Huffington Post

It's written as a confessional, so from the start you know it's going to end badly, but your exasperation with the feebleness of Nick the narrator is gradually overtaken by curiosity to find out just how calamitously things will pan out.

The Guardian - Books

This is how I think things will pan out.

BBC

Although your boss is younger, you have plenty to offer - experience, maturity and the knowledge of how things will often pan out.

WikiHow

Assessing how things will develop over the coming years is already tricky, but how will all this pan out in the long term?

Applied Petrochemical Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "how things will pan", opt for the more grammatically sound and widely accepted phrase "how things will pan out" to discuss future developments.

Common error

Avoid omitting "out" when trying to use the idiom. The phrase "how things will pan" is incomplete and considered grammatically incorrect. Always include "out" for proper usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how things will pan" is grammatically incomplete and doesn't function as a standard idiomatic expression. The correct form, according to Ludwig, is "how things will pan out".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "how things will pan" is grammatically incorrect. The correct idiomatic expression is "how things will pan out", used to discuss the future development or resolution of a situation. As Ludwig AI indicates, omitting "out" renders the phrase incomplete and non-standard. Alternatives include "how things will turn out" or "how events will unfold". Always use the complete idiom "how things will pan out" for proper communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how things will turn out

Focuses on the eventual result or consequence of events.

how events will unfold

Emphasizes the sequential progression of occurrences.

what the outcome will be

Highlights the final result, often in a situation with multiple possibilities.

how the situation will develop

Suggests a process of growth or evolution in circumstances.

how it will all play out

Implies a dramatic or staged unfolding of events.

what the future holds

A broader, more general inquiry about upcoming experiences.

how things will progress

Highlights the forward movement or advancement of events.

what will come of this

Focuses on the consequences or results stemming from a particular situation.

how the matter will resolve itself

Suggests a natural or independent resolution to an issue.

how the chips will fall

A more idiomatic expression implying that the outcome is subject to chance or external forces.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "how things will pan"?

The correct and idiomatic way to express this idea is "how things will pan out".

What does "how things will pan out" mean?

It means to understand or see how a situation will develop or what the eventual result of a series of events will be.

Are there alternatives to saying "how things will pan out"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "how things will turn out", "how events will unfold", or "what the outcome will be".

Is it acceptable to omit "out" from "how things will pan out"?

No, omitting "out" is not grammatically correct. The proper idiomatic expression is "how things will pan out".