is about to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is about to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to an upcoming event in the near future. For example: "The storm is about to hit the coast."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

PMQs is about to start.

The Guardian

Another is about to graduate.

Independent

That is about to end.

The Economist

He is about to cry.

The New Yorker

That is about to change.

The New York Times

He is about to die.

Independent

The whole building is about to collapse".

The New York Times

President Obama is about to find out.

The New York Times

It is about to get worse.

Independent

Jamaica is about to make history here.

The New York Times

Spying is about to get harder.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is about to" to create a sense of immediacy or anticipation in your writing. It's more engaging than simply stating a future event.

Common error

While effective, avoid overusing "is about to" in highly formal or academic writing. Alternatives like "will soon" or "is set to" might provide a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is about to" functions as a future tense construction, indicating an event that will occur in the immediate future. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It creates a sense of anticipation, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is about to" is a correct and very common construction used to indicate that something will happen imminently. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various writing contexts. It's particularly prevalent in news and media, and while generally neutral in tone, it should be used judiciously in highly formal writing, as demonstrated by Ludwig's extensive collection of real-world examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is on the verge of

Emphasizes the proximity to the event's start.

is on the brink of

Implies a critical point before the event occurs, often with a sense of anticipation or potential danger.

is going to

A common, less formal way to express future intention or prediction.

will soon

Highlights the temporal closeness of the upcoming event.

is set to

Indicates a planned or scheduled event.

is scheduled to

Similar to 'is set to', but more explicitly emphasizes the planning aspect.

is poised to

Suggests readiness and anticipation for the event.

is nearing

Focuses on the gradual approach of the event.

is impending

Implies a sense of inevitability and often urgency about the event.

approaches

Describes the action of something coming closer in time or space.

FAQs

How can I use "is about to" in a sentence?

The phrase "is about to" indicates that something will happen very soon. For example, "The movie "is about to start"" or "The company "is about to launch" a new product".

What can I say instead of "is about to"?

You can use alternatives like "is on the verge of", "is going to", or "will soon" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is about to" or "about to"?

"Is about to" is grammatically complete and typically preferred. "About to" can be used in informal contexts, but "is about to" provides a clearer and more formal structure.

What's the difference between "is about to" and "is going to"?

"Is about to" often suggests a higher degree of immediacy than "is going to". "Is about to" implies that something will happen almost immediately, whereas "is going to" can refer to the near or more distant future.