it will be a boy

USAGE SUMMARY

"It will be a boy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a belief or expectation about a future event. For example: "The doctor said she will be having a baby next month and I'm sure it will be a boy!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"It will be a boy" she said.

The New Yorker

Whether it will be a boy or a girl, smart or withdrawn.

The New Yorker

Unsurprisingly given the randomness of nature, the odds on whether it will be a boy or a girl are fairly even.

Independent

Vidal's putting his wife in danger because he believes that his son (he's convinced it will be a boy) should be born near his father.

The Guardian

The gender of the baby has not been disclosed to the public, but conservatives hope it will be a boy, thereby scuttling debate over whether to change Japan's male-only succession law to allow a woman to take the throne.

The New York Times

Although there is no word on whether it will be a boy or a girl, Seacrest agreed that the baby is definitely Channing's "greatest production yet".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Consider whether your Shelby will be a boy or girl.

WikiHow

It will be a full-grown boy from the extended family itself.

Huffington Post

Your teacher might believe that your old aunt Gladys died, but when your old aunt Gladys does die, it will be a case of the boy who cried wolf.

WikiHow

"It will be a nice way for you boys to spend some time together," he said.

The New Yorker

It is unusual, and it will be a test now for the boys to see who the tough ones are.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it will be a boy" when expressing a prediction or expectation, especially in the context of pregnancy or future events. Ensure the context makes it clear who or what 'it' refers to.

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "it" has a clear referent. Avoid using the phrase in contexts where the subject is unclear, as this can lead to confusion. For example, instead of saying "It will be a boy", specify "The baby will be a boy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it will be a boy" primarily functions as a predictive statement. It forecasts a future outcome related to the sex of an unborn child. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase expresses a belief or expectation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.67%

Wiki

19.05%

Science

4.76%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4.76%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it will be a boy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to predict or expect that a future child will be male. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, it's important to ensure that "it" has a clear referent to avoid ambiguity. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, this phrase serves to convey anticipation, particularly in pregnancy-related discussions. Related phrases include "it is going to be a boy" and "it's likely to be a boy". The key is to provide enough context to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is going to be a boy

Changes the auxiliary verb from "will" to "is going to", expressing a future intention or plan.

the baby will be a boy

Specifies that the topic of the sentence is baby.

it's expected to be a boy

Highlights an anticipation or expectation based on current evidence.

it's likely to be a boy

Indicates a probability rather than a certainty.

it's destined to be a boy

Emphasizes a predetermined outcome or fate.

we anticipate a boy

Shifts the focus to the speaker's anticipation of the event.

a boy is predicted

Uses "predicted" to suggest a forecast based on specific data or signs.

a boy is anticipated

Expresses expectation from the perspective of someone.

it will be a male

Replaces "boy" with the more formal term "male".

a male child is expected

Replaces "boy" with the more formal term "male child".

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it will be a boy"?

The phrase "it will be a boy" is appropriate when expressing a prediction or expectation, typically in the context of a pregnancy or future birth. It's used to state a belief about the sex of the child.

What are some alternative ways to say "it will be a boy"?

Alternatives include "it is going to be a boy", "it's likely to be a boy", or "the baby will be a boy". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "it will be a boy" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it will be a boy" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure, with "it" as the subject, "will be" as the future tense of the verb "to be", and "a boy" as the predicate nominative.

How does the phrase "it will be a boy" differ from "it's a boy"?

"It will be a boy" expresses a future expectation or prediction, while "it's a boy" is typically used to announce the birth or confirmed sex of a child. The former is anticipatory, and the latter is a statement of fact after the event has occurred.