in the future when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the future when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time or event that will occur later on. Example: "In the future when we have more resources, we will expand our project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

playing the piano in the future (when she is older).

University of California, Berkeley

But in the future, when consumers want to save less, q will be lower.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In the future, when we have disputes, we will solve them with guns.

The New York Times

Brexit means Brexit – one day in the future, when everything else has happened first.

The Guardian - Opinion

There are surely times in the future when we will part ways.

The New York Times

Will it communicate to other people in the future, when the culture's changed?

The New Yorker

"In the future when a person is paralysed, they won't use an exoskeleton.

The Guardian

At least until 20 years in the future, when it becomes funny again.

The Guardian - Opinion

These concepts help to make predictions in the future, when similar perceptions occur.

The Guardian - Tech

There will be times in the future when vital national interests are genuinely and imminently threatened.

The Guardian

"In the future when they catch others, like bin Laden, he can be a witness".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the future when" to set expectations or make predictions, rather than stating immediate plans. This emphasizes a longer-term perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "in the future when" for events that are certain to happen. Instead, use simple future tense or phrases like "eventually" or "in time" for clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the future when" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a temporal clause. It sets a time frame and a condition, indicating that something will occur at a later time contingent on a specific event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms this with its numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

24%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in the future when" is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction that serves to introduce a future scenario contingent upon a particular condition. Ludwig AI confirms this widespread use with numerous real-world examples across news, academic, and scientific domains. It is important to use this phrase thoughtfully, ensuring that it adds value by clearly specifying both the timing and the conditional aspect of the statement. Avoiding overuse in simple future scenarios helps maintain clarity and conciseness. Considering alternatives like "at a future time when" or "sometime in the future when" can further refine the expression to better suit the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sometime in the future when

Adds a degree of uncertainty about the timing of the future event.

At a future time when

More formal and emphasizes a specific point in time.

In subsequent times when

Formal, suggesting a series of future occurrences.

Later on when

More casual and general, less precise about the future.

Down the line when

Informal, indicating a point further into the future.

Eventually when

Emphasizes that the event will happen at some unspecified point.

In due course when

Suggests the event will happen naturally as things progress.

At some future juncture when

Very formal and specific, highlighting a critical point in time.

In the coming period when

Suggests a defined future timeframe in which an event will occur.

Further along when

More informal, indicating progress towards a future event.

FAQs

How can I use "in the future when" in a sentence?

Use "in the future when" to describe a future scenario contingent on a specific condition. For example, "In the future when technology advances further, medical treatments will become more precise."

What are some alternatives to "in the future when"?

You can use alternatives like "at a future time when", "later on when", or "sometime in the future when" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "in the future when"?

While generally correct, using "in the future when" can be redundant if the "when" clause already implies a future event. Consider if a simpler construction is more concise.

How does "in the future when" differ from "if in the future"?

"In the future when" implies a more certain expectation that the condition will be met, whereas "if in the future" suggests a greater degree of uncertainty about whether the condition will occur.