planning to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"planning to be" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used when talking about future intentions or actions. Example: I am planning to be a doctor when I finish college.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some were already planning to be there.

The New York Times

He's planning to be a lawyer.

The Economist

She was planning to be there.

The New York Times

"I wasn't really planning to be a solo artist.

The New York Times - Arts

The Mets are planning to be patient with Davis.

The New York Times - Sports

He's planning to be back onstage, in contemporary dance works.

The Guardian

We were on our uppers and planning to be writers".

The Guardian - Books

After this tour, she's planning to be Destiny's Child's survivor.

The New York Times - Arts

We aren't planning to be involved in it.

The Guardian

Still planning to be a playwright and poet, she demurred.

The New York Times - Arts

But was he really planning to be Prime Minister even then?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "planning to be" to clearly express intentions or future states that are actively being prepared for or considered. This phrase is suitable for a wide range of contexts, from formal business plans to personal aspirations.

Common error

While "planning to be" is versatile, overuse in highly formal writing can make the tone sound less decisive. Consider stronger verbs like 'intends', 'aims', or 'will' for a more authoritative tone in formal reports or academic papers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "planning to be" functions as an infinitive phrase, indicating a future action or state that someone intends to achieve. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and grammatically correct way to express future intentions. Many examples in Ludwig demonstrate this, such as someone "planning to be" a doctor or an organization "planning to be" patient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "planning to be" is a grammatically correct and frequently used infinitive phrase that effectively conveys future intentions and anticipated states. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage across diverse contexts. As demonstrated by numerous examples, it's prevalent in news, business, and even scientific domains. While versatile, it's essential to be mindful of tone and formality, especially in professional writing, and consider alternatives when a stronger or more decisive tone is required. Knowing that you are "planning to be" something gives you a focus and a target to aim for, whether you're "planning to be" a doctor or "planning to be" patient in a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intending to be

Emphasizes a firm intention rather than a process of planning.

aiming to be

Highlights aspiration and goal-oriented behavior.

expecting to be

Focuses on anticipation or belief about a future state.

scheduled to be

Implies a fixed arrangement or timetable.

set to be

Suggests a high degree of certainty or predetermination.

preparing to be

Highlights the preparatory actions being taken.

desiring to be

Expresses a wish or strong preference.

hoping to be

Indicates a wishful expectation, often with less certainty.

anticipating being

Focuses on looking forward to a future state or experience.

considering being

Implies a more tentative or exploratory approach.

FAQs

How do I use "planning to be" in a sentence?

Use "planning to be" to describe a future intention or a state that someone is preparing for. For example, "She is planning to be a doctor" or "They are planning to be in Rome next June".

What are some alternatives to "planning to be"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "intending to be", "aiming to be", or "expecting to be" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "planning to be" and "intending to be"?

"Planning to be" implies a process of preparation and consideration, while "intending to be" emphasizes a firm decision or purpose. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the preparatory steps or the certainty of the intention.

When is it better to use "aiming to be" instead of "planning to be"?

Use "aiming to be" when you want to emphasize aspiration or a goal-oriented approach. "Planning to be" is more general, while "aiming to be" suggests striving towards a specific target.