pretty soon

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty soon" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means "soon" or "in a short amount of time". Example sentence: I'll be finished with my work pretty soon.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pretty soon".

The New Yorker

Pretty soon, you can.

The New Yorker

"You'll know pretty soon".

The New York Times

Probably pretty soon.

The New York Times

MR. BUSH -- Pretty soon.

The New York Times

"Pretty soon now".

The New Yorker

Or pretty soon, anyway".

The New York Times - Sports

So pretty soon hopefully!

The Guardian - Tech

Pretty soon, who needs cable?

The Washington Post

Pretty soon, we were unstoppable.

Harvard Business Review

Pretty soon, it pulled alongside.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty soon" to indicate an event will occur in the near future, but avoid overusing it in formal writing where more precise language is preferred.

Common error

While "pretty soon" is generally understood, it lacks specificity. If the exact timing is important, use more precise language such as "in a few hours" or "tomorrow morning" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty soon" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action or event. It specifies that something will occur in the near future. Ludwig AI shows many examples of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Tech

15%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty soon" is a common and generally acceptable adverbial phrase used to indicate that something will happen in the near future. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and can be used in diverse contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in certain settings. While widely understood, providing specific timeframes might enhance clarity in situations where precision is crucial. It frequently appears in "News & Media", "Tech", and "Sports" contexts. Consider alternatives like "shortly" or "in the near future" for more formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

any minute now

Suggests that something is expected to happen almost immediately.

shortly

A more formal synonym, implying an imminent occurrence.

momentarily

Formal and precise, indicating something will happen in a very short time.

in a little while

Slightly more colloquial, suggesting a brief but indefinite period.

imminently

A very formal term suggesting that something is about to happen.

before long

Emphasizes that the waiting time will not be extensive.

in the near future

More formal and general, referring to the upcoming time period.

coming up

Informal and often used to describe events.

in due time

Implies that something will happen when the time is right, not necessarily immediately.

by and by

An older, somewhat archaic expression for eventually.

FAQs

What does "pretty soon" mean?

The phrase "pretty soon" means in a short amount of time; before long; or shortly.

What can I say instead of "pretty soon"?

You can use alternatives like "shortly", "in a little while", or "in the near future" depending on the context.

Is "pretty soon" formal or informal?

"Pretty soon" is considered to be relatively informal. In formal writing, it's better to opt for alternatives like "shortly" or "in the near future".

How to use "pretty soon" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty soon" to indicate that something will happen in the near future. For example: "I'll be finished with my work "pretty soon"."