they will come

USAGE SUMMARY

'they will come' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a group of people who are expected to arrive in the future. For example: "My friends said they will come to my party this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then they will come".

The New Yorker

But they will come.

Forbes

They will come out running.

The New Yorker

And they will come.

Cornell University

"They will come home.

The Washington Post

Hopefully, they will come.

The New York Times - Sports

But build it and they will come.

The New Yorker

"If you pay them, they will come.

The New York Times

Build a good mousetrap, they will come.

The New York Times

Now they will come to Taj Arabia.

Independent

But planting and picking they will come.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to ensure the tone is appropriate; while generally neutral, the phrase can sometimes carry connotations of anticipation, inevitability, or even threat.

Common error

Avoid using "they will come" if the arrival is uncertain or merely a possibility. Phrases like "they might come" or "they may come" are more suitable for expressing doubt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they will come" functions primarily as a statement of future action or event. Ludwig AI shows examples across diverse contexts, from literal arrivals to metaphorical consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they will come" is a common and versatile phrase used to express an expectation or prediction about a future arrival or event. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the level of certainty aligns with the intended meaning and consider alternative phrases to convey nuances of expectation or inevitability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they are going to arrive

Replaces the modal verb 'will' with the 'going to' future construction, maintaining a similar level of certainty about the arrival.

they are coming

Uses the present continuous tense to describe an action happening in the near future; less formal.

they shall arrive

Substitutes 'will' with 'shall', which can add a slightly more formal or emphatic tone.

they are due to come

Emphasizes that the arrival is scheduled or expected, adding a sense of obligation or planning.

they are expected to arrive

Highlights the expectation of their arrival, focusing on anticipation.

they are anticipated to come

Similar to 'expected to arrive', but with a slightly more formal and predictive tone.

they will be present

Focuses on their presence at a specific location or event, rather than the act of arriving.

they are on their way

Implies that they have already started their journey and are in transit.

they will be here soon

Adds a temporal element, indicating the arrival is imminent.

their arrival is assured

Shifts the focus to the certainty of the arrival, rather than the act of coming itself.

FAQs

How can I use "they will come" in a sentence?

Use "they will come" to indicate a future arrival or occurrence that is expected or certain. For example, "If you build a quality product, "they will come"." or "After the storm passes, "they will come" back to rebuild."

What are some alternatives to "they will come"?

Alternatives include phrases like "they are going to arrive", "they are due to come", or "their arrival is assured", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "they will come" formal or informal?

The phrase "they will come" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its suitability depends more on the surrounding language and the overall situation.

What's the difference between "they will come" and "they might come"?

"They will come" expresses a higher degree of certainty about the arrival, while "they might come" indicates a possibility or uncertainty. Use "they might come" when the arrival is not guaranteed.