plans to attend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plans to attend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's intention or arrangement to be present at an event or gathering. Example: "She has made her travel arrangements and now has plans to attend the conference next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

O'Bannon plans to attend Thursday's hearing.

The New York Times - Sports

She plans to attend Columbia College.

The New York Times

Despite the controversy, he plans to attend.

The New York Times - Sports

She plans to attend Harvard.

The New York Times

She plans to attend college.

The New York Times

He plans to attend every practice.

The New York Times - Sports

Some pastors canceled plans to attend.

The New York Times - Magazine

He had no plans to attend.

The Guardian

Judge Wheeler plans to attend the deposition personally.

The New York Times

She plans to attend law school — somewhere else.

The New York Times

The family plans to attend Mr. Bulger's court appearances.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal invitations, use "plans to attend" to denote confirmed arrangements. For more casual communication, consider alternatives like "intends to go" or "will be there."

Common error

Avoid using "plans to attend" excessively in casual conversations. Opt for simpler phrases like "going" or "will be there" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plans to attend" functions as a verb phrase indicating a future intention or arrangement. It specifies that someone intends to be present at a particular event, meeting, or location. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "plans to attend" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate an intention or arrangement to be present at an event. As Ludwig confirms, it is versatile, appearing frequently in news and media, and to a lesser extent in scientific and business contexts. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, it is advisable to avoid overuse in overly casual settings, where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. When aiming for alternatives, "intends to go", "is scheduled to attend", or "expects to be at" can be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intends to go to

Replaces "plans" with "intends" and "attend" with "go to", offering a slightly less formal tone.

is scheduled to attend

Emphasizes the formal arrangement and pre-set schedule for attending.

is going to be present at

Focuses on the physical presence at the event, rather than the planning stage.

expects to be at

Implies an anticipation and likelihood of being at the event.

anticipates attending

Highlights the anticipation of attending and the positive expectation.

aims to be present at

Stresses the goal or aim of being present at the event.

has every intention of attending

Underscores the strong intention and commitment to attend.

is set to be at

Highlights that something is scheduled or prepared to be attended.

will be attending

Focuses on future action using continuous tense, is mostly used to describe attending during the time.

envisions being at

Highlights the mental image of being at a place

FAQs

How can I use "plans to attend" in a sentence?

You can use "plans to attend" to indicate someone's intention to be present at an event, such as "She "plans to attend" the conference next week" or "He "plans to attend" the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "plans to attend"?

Some alternatives include "intends to go", "is scheduled to attend", or "expects to be at". The best choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "plans to attend" or "is planning to attend"?

"Plans to attend" is suitable for stating a general intention or arrangement. "Is planning to attend" emphasizes the ongoing process of making arrangements. Both are grammatically correct, but their subtle differences in emphasis may make one more appropriate than the other in a particular context.

What's the difference between "plans to attend" and "hopes to attend"?

"Plans to attend" suggests a firm intention and likely arrangement, while "hopes to attend" indicates a desire or wish with no guarantee of actual attendance. For example, "She "plans to attend" the wedding" implies she has made arrangements, while "She hopes to attend the wedding" suggests she wants to go but may not be able to.