planning to do

USAGE SUMMARY

"planning to do" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that someone intends to do in the future. Example: I am planning to do some shopping this weekend.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Cook was planning to do likewise.

The Guardian - Sport

It means planning to do something bad.

The New Yorker

That's what he's planning to do.

The New York Times

Are you planning to do graduate work?

The Washington Post

What was he planning to do next, anyway?

The New York Times

" I don't even know what I was planning to do".

Independent

"Where are we going, what are we planning to do?

Independent

(He's planning to do a summer internship at Vogue).

The New Yorker

Which is exactly what I'm planning to do this week.

The New York Times

By the way, how are you planning to do this?

The New York Times

Perhaps he'd been planning to do laundry, too.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "planning to do" when you want to express a future intention or course of action that you have already considered. For instance, "I am planning to do some research on this topic next week."

Common error

Avoid using "planning to do" when referring to past actions. Instead, use past tense forms like "planned to do" or "was planning to do". For instance, say "I planned to do it yesterday" instead of "I planning to do it yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "planning to do" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating future intention. It combines the present participle of "plan" with the infinitive "to do", describing an ongoing process of arranging or deciding on a future action. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "planning to do" is a grammatically sound and widely used verb phrase that expresses the intention to perform a future action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for general use in written English. Analysis of the provided examples reveals that it appears most frequently in news and media sources, indicating its relevance in everyday communication. While versatile across various contexts, careful attention should be paid to maintain consistency and accuracy when using the tense and choosing appropriate alternatives to ensure clarity in one's writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have every intention of

Emphasizes a firm decision or commitment to the action.

intending to perform

Emphasizes the intention or purpose behind the action.

aiming to accomplish

Highlights the goal or objective being pursued.

preparing to execute

Suggests a more formal and structured approach to the action.

getting ready to undertake

Implies readiness and willingness to begin the action.

setting out to achieve

Focuses on the desired outcome or result.

seeking to fulfill

Highlights the desire to complete or satisfy a specific goal.

proposing to carry out

Suggests a formal plan or suggestion for the action.

looking forward to undertaking

Expresses anticipation and excitement about the action.

have designs on

This idiomatic alternative expresses intent or ambition towards something.

FAQs

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

You can use "planning to do" to express future intentions. For example, "They are planning to do a survey next month."

What are some alternatives to "planning to do"?

Alternatives include phrases like "intending to", "aiming to", or "preparing to". For example, instead of saying "I'm planning to do that", you could say "I'm "intending to" do that".

Which is correct, "planning to do" or "plan to do"?

"Planning to do" and "plan to do" are both correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Plan to do" is more general, while "planning to do" suggests an ongoing or recent planning process.

What's the difference between "planning to do" and "going to do"?

"Planning to do" emphasizes the planning stage, while "going to do" simply indicates a future action. For example, "I'm planning to do some exercise" suggests you're in the process of organizing it, whereas "I'm going to do some exercise" simply means you intend to do it.