is about to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is about to go" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is imminent or will happen very soon. Example: "The train is about to go, so please hurry to the platform."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her son is about to go to university.

The Guardian

The problem is about to go beyond Hotmail.

The Guardian - Tech

How wonderful that your child is about to go into the world without you.

The New York Times

The budget is about to go off to ITV," he said.

The Guardian

Ferguson is about to go and Mancini has already departed.

BBC

The Clean Power Plan is about to go live.

Forbes

There are some ways to tell if your employer is about to go belly up, however.

BBC

Max is about to go downstairs, on his butt.

Huffington Post

Recreational marijuana is about to go mainstream as well.

Huffington Post

But the kinetic atmosphere of the operation is about to go bilingual.

Los Angeles Times

Obamacare Is About to Go Live.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is about to go" when you want to convey a sense of immediacy or anticipation about a future event. It's suitable for a wide range of contexts, from casual conversations to formal reports.

Common error

While versatile, overuse of "is about to go" in highly formal documents might make your writing sound less sophisticated. Consider using alternatives like "is poised to" or "is on the verge of" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is about to go" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that something is on the verge of happening or is imminent. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples showing its use in diverse contexts, reinforcing its role as a common way to express near-future action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is about to go" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate that something will happen very soon. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain professional settings. When you need to communicate the imminence of an event, "is about to go" is a reliable and clear choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is on the verge of

Emphasizes the imminence of an event, similar to "is about to go".

is on the brink of

Highlights a critical point just before a change, similar to "is about to go".

is close to

Indicates nearness to an event or action.

will soon

Directly indicates that something will happen in the near future, shorter and more concise.

is set to

Highlights the planned or scheduled nature of an upcoming event.

is poised to

Suggests readiness and anticipation for an event, a bit more formal.

is scheduled to

Focuses on the planned and confirmed nature of the event.

is nearing

Indicates the approach of an event or state.

is approaching

Similar to 'is nearing', but can imply a more gradual coming.

is imminent

A formal way to say that something is about to happen.

FAQs

What does "is about to go" mean?

The phrase "is about to go" means that something will happen very soon. It indicates imminence and anticipation of an event or action.

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

You can use "is about to go" to describe events that are on the cusp of occurring. For example, "The show "is about to begin"" or "The stock market "is about to crash"".

What are some alternatives to "is about to go"?

Some alternatives include "is on the verge of", "is on the brink of", "will soon", and "is set to". The best alternative depends on the specific context.

Is "is about to go" formal or informal?

The phrase "is about to go" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, more sophisticated alternatives like "is poised to" may be preferable.