in readiness

USAGE SUMMARY

"in readiness" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to mean prepared and ready. For example: "The team was in readiness for the big game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Foreign agents were suspected of lurking in readiness.

The Guardian - Books

Perhaps a flourish of watercress and all is in readiness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Maintenance crews were cutting the grass, keeping all in readiness.

The New York Times

I shall butter myself a teacake in readiness.

The Guardian - Film

Clad in a GB vest in readiness for London 2012?

Independent

What he had to do was to hold himself in readiness, to recognize the moment".

The New York Times - Arts

Only when all was in readiness did Adams put a violent finish to the game.

The New York Times

Publishers have committed to it as well, digitising thousands of books in readiness for its launch.

The Guardian - Books

The Ministry of Defence also has them in readiness for use on Harriers.

The Guardian

The quintet loafing in readiness around the Rubel plant got two shocks on that day.

The New Yorker

Ruth's still-slender body is coiled in readiness, his bat raised high behind his head.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in readiness" to convey a formal tone of preparedness, particularly when describing institutional or organizational readiness for an event or situation. For example, "The hospital staff was in readiness for the expected influx of patients."

Common error

Avoid using "in readiness" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler terms like "ready" or "prepared" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can sound unnatural or pretentious in relaxed settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in readiness" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating a state of preparedness or being ready for a particular event or action. Ludwig provides examples such as troops being "in readiness for deployment" or a team being "in readiness for the upcoming competition".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"In readiness" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate a state of being prepared and ready for a particular event or action. It is grammatically correct and widely used, as affirmed by Ludwig. Analysis of various sources reveals its common presence in News & Media and Wiki, indicating a formal and neutral register. While many alternative phrases, such as "in preparation" or "ready", exist, "in readiness" conveys a specific nuance of complete preparedness. Remember to consider the context and desired tone when choosing between "in readiness" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in preparation

Focuses more on the act of preparing rather than the state of being ready.

prepared

A single-word adjective that conveys a similar meaning of being ready.

ready

A simpler, more direct synonym, lacking the prepositional phrase structure.

in anticipation

Emphasizes the expectation of something happening.

at the ready

Implies immediate availability and preparedness for action.

on standby

Suggests a state of being available and waiting for instructions or action.

geared up

Indicates being equipped and prepared, often for a specific task.

standing by

Similar to 'on standby', implying availability and a waiting state.

all set

An informal way of saying that everything is ready.

primed

Suggests a state of being fully prepared and optimized for a specific outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "in readiness" in a sentence?

Use "in readiness" to indicate a state of preparedness or being ready for something. For example, "The troops were "in readiness" for deployment" or "The team was "in readiness" for the upcoming competition".

What are some alternatives to "in readiness"?

Some alternatives include "in preparation", "prepared", "ready", "at the ready", or "on standby". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "in readiness" or "in preparedness"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "in readiness" is more commonly used and generally preferred. "In preparedness" can sound slightly more formal or stilted, though both convey a similar meaning.

What's the difference between "in readiness" and "getting ready"?

"In readiness" describes a state of being fully prepared, while "getting ready" describes the process of preparing. For instance, "The athletes were "in readiness" for the race" implies they were already prepared, whereas "The athletes were getting ready for the race" indicates they were in the process of preparing.