it was about to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was about to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was on the verge of happening or about to occur in the near future. Example: "As the storm clouds gathered, I realized it was about to rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was about to get worse.

The New York Times

It was about to get even darker.

The Guardian

It was about to go bankrupt.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was about to get much worse.

The New York Times - Sports

It was about to become clear to Salmond as well.

The Guardian

It was melanoma and it was about to get nasty.

Independent

But we felt it was about to happen.

The New York Times - Sports

(My guess is that it was about to leak anyway).

The New York Times

It was about to launch music into a new decade.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

WELL, it is about to happen.

The Economist

And it's about to get worse.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was about to" to create anticipation in your writing. It's effective for setting up a pivotal moment or highlighting a near miss.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses unexpectedly after using "it was about to". Ensure the subsequent events are described in a tense that logically follows the setup. For instance, don't switch to future tense without reason.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was about to" functions as a verbal phrase that sets the stage for an imminent event or action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, with numerous examples showing its role in creating anticipation or highlighting a close call.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was about to" is a versatile and common expression used to indicate that something was on the verge of happening. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, especially in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure tense consistency and consider alternatives like "it was on the verge of" or "it was imminent" for nuanced emphasis. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was just about to

Adds a sense of immediacy to the impending action.

it was on the verge of

Emphasizes the closeness to a particular state or event.

it was on the point of

Highlights the precise moment just before an action.

it was close to

Indicates nearness in time or probability to an event.

it nearly happened

Focuses on the potential but unrealized occurrence.

it was imminent

Stresses the inevitability and nearness of an event.

it looked like it would

Emphasizes the visual signs suggesting a future event.

it seemed ready to

Highlights the apparent readiness for something to occur.

the time was ripe for

Implies the conditions were perfect for something to happen.

it threatened to

Conveys a potential negative outcome that almost happened.

FAQs

How can I use "it was about to" in a sentence?

Use "it was about to" to indicate an action or event that was on the verge of happening. For example, "The bomb squad arrived just as "it was about to" detonate".

What are some alternatives to "it was about to"?

You can use alternatives such as "it was on the verge of", "it was on the point of", or "it was imminent" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was about to" formal or informal?

"It was about to" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile phrase for various types of writing and speech.

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

While both phrases indicate a future action, ""it was about to"" suggests a higher degree of immediacy and imminence compared to "it was going to", which can refer to a more distant future plan or intention.