soon to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"soon to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is about to happen in the near future. For example: "I am soon to be a college graduate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Soon to be my drunken son".

The New York Times

And these are soon to be closed.

The Economist

"Soon to be 19 months".

The New York Times

Soon to be very monied.

The Guardian - Music

It's too soon to be promoting itself.

The New York Times

The Aylesbury is soon to be demolished.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

The soon-to-be new tenants agree.

The New York Times

To her soon-to-be ex-husband?

The Guardian - Books

She has completed a second, soon-to-be-published book.

The New York Times

Sears meanwhile wrote the company's soon-to-be-famous catalogs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Of the group of soon-to-be evicted port tenants.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "soon to be" to create anticipation or expectation about an upcoming event or change. It's particularly effective when highlighting a transformation or progression.

Common error

While versatile, "soon to be" can sometimes sound informal. In highly formal contexts, consider more sophisticated synonyms like "impending" or "forthcoming" for a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "soon to be" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier, indicating that a noun is expected to transition into a specific state or condition in the near future. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns like "president", "released", and "demolished".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "soon to be" is a versatile adjectival modifier used to indicate that something is expected to transition into a specific state or condition in the near future. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in English writing. Its primary function is to express anticipation or prediction about a future event or state, and it maintains a generally neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts, though more formal synonyms might be preferred in academic or scientific writing. Found frequently in news and media, "soon to be" serves to prepare the audience for an upcoming change. Examples pulled from Ludwig show a diverse range of applications, from describing a "soon to be president" to a "soon to be demolished" building.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to be

Replaces "soon" with "about", indicating immediate future action.

on the verge of

Suggests being very close to a particular state or event.

imminent

Uses a single adjective to convey the idea of something approaching rapidly.

set to be

Implies a scheduled or planned future event.

fast approaching

Emphasizes the quickness of the upcoming event.

coming up

A simpler, more informal way of saying something will happen soon.

approaching

Focuses on the act of nearing a specific time or event.

on the horizon

A more metaphorical expression suggesting something is appearing in the future.

scheduled for

More explicitly indicates a planned future occurrence.

in the offing

Similar to "on the horizon", implying something is likely to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "soon to be" in a sentence?

Use "soon to be" to indicate that something is expected to happen or become a certain way in the near future. For example, "She is "soon to be married"" or "This is "soon to be a problem"".

What are some alternatives to "soon to be"?

Alternatives to "soon to be" include "about to be", "imminent", or "approaching". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to use "soon-to-be" with a hyphen?

Yes, "soon-to-be" can be hyphenated when it acts as a compound adjective before a noun. For example, "the "soon-to-be-released" report". Without the hyphen, "soon to be" functions as an adverbial phrase.

What is the difference between "soon to be" and "will soon be"?

"Soon to be" emphasizes an impending change or state, while "will soon be" simply indicates a future action or state. "She is "soon to be a mother"" highlights the expectation, whereas "She will soon be a mother" forecasts a future condition.