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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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looking forward to join

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking forward to join" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used when expressing excitement or anticipation about joining an organization, group, or club. For example, you could use it in a sentence like this: "I am looking forward to join the new book club at the library."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"But, on the other hand I am really looking forward to join a club with a proud history like Wasps".

News & Media

BBC

"Today we in UNICEF are looking forward to join hands with the CE, EU and the Government of Azerbaijan to reach our common objectives: Azerbaijan that is fit for children,  build for children – and built with them," she said.

Formal & Business

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I'm looking forward to joining something special down here.

Hodges said he was looking forward to joining the business.

"I am now very much looking forward to joining the new national Smooth Radio".

News & Media

The Guardian

I'm looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates today and beginning preparation for the season ahead.

News & Media

Independent

I am very much looking forward to joining the team and to contributing to their digital-first strategy".

News & Media

The Guardian

He said he was looking forward to joining the Mets' outfield rotation and doing anything he was asked.

Blackadder said: "I'm really looking forward to joining Bath – they are an ambitious club, with some very talented players.

Ms. Carey, the multiplatinum pop singer, spoke briefly by telephone to reporters at the annual press tour here, saying she was looking forward to joining the show.

News & Media

The New York Times

Mr. Morton said he was looking forward to joining Euro RSCG New York as the agency seeks to move ahead after executive and account changes.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the gerund form "joining" after "looking forward to". For example, say "I'm looking forward to joining the team" rather than "I'm looking forward to join the team".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of a verb directly after "looking forward to". The correct structure requires a gerund (verb ending in -ing). Incorrect: "I'm looking forward to join". Correct: "I'm looking forward to joining".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking forward to join" functions incorrectly as a verbal phrase expressing anticipation. Ludwig AI identifies the correct form as requiring the gerund "joining".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intention behind using the phrase "looking forward to join" is to express anticipation and excitement, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "looking forward to joining", which uses the gerund form of the verb. Ludwig AI indicates that the corrected phrase is acceptable and common. When writing, remember that it is better to use "looking forward to joining" if you want to avoid grammatical errors. While sources like BBC, Unicef, The Guardian, The New York Times, and TechCrunch may use the phrase, it's often due to direct quotes, and doesn't validate the grammatical correctness.

FAQs

Why is "looking forward to joining" correct, but "looking forward to join" is incorrect?

The phrase "looking forward to" requires a gerund (verb ending in -ing) after the preposition "to". Therefore, "looking forward to joining" is correct, while "looking forward to join" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "looking forward to joining"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to join", "excited to join", or "anticipating joining" depending on the context.

How do I use "looking forward to joining" in a sentence?

Use "looking forward to joining" when you want to express anticipation or excitement about becoming a member of a group or participating in an activity. For example: "I am looking forward to joining the book club next week."

Is "looking forward to be joining" correct?

While grammatically possible in certain contexts, "looking forward to be joining" is less common and sounds somewhat awkward. It's generally better to use "looking forward to joining" for a more natural and concise expression.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: