things to come

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things to come" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to future events or developments that are anticipated or expected. Example: "The conference will focus on innovations and things to come in the field of technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Parody on H.G. Wells, "Things to Come".

The New Yorker

A sign of better things to come.

Independent

I even expect more things to come.

The New York Times

A harbinger of things to come?

The Economist

A harbinger of things to come, perhaps?

The Economist

Mineral? — of things to come.

The New York Times

It's a taste of things to come.

Independent

It's the shape of things to come.

The Guardian - Opinion

A taste of things to come?

The Guardian - Sport

It's the face of things to come.

The New York Times

A foretaste of things to come?

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "things to come" when you want to create a sense of anticipation or expectation about future events or developments. It's particularly effective when hinting at potential changes or innovations.

Common error

While "things to come" is widely understood, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more specific and precise language like "future developments" or "forthcoming events" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things to come" functions primarily as a noun phrase referring to future events or developments. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and widely used. It often serves as a general reference to anticipated happenings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "things to come" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to refer to future events or developments. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a suitable phrase for creating anticipation, although it might be less appropriate in strictly formal settings. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals that it's primarily found in news and media contexts. While alternatives such as "future prospects" or "forthcoming events" exist, "things to come" remains a versatile and widely understood way to hint at what the future holds.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

future prospects

Focuses more specifically on potential advancements or opportunities in the future.

forthcoming events

Emphasizes the imminent or scheduled nature of future happenings.

impending developments

Highlights the sense of inevitability and potential impact of future changes.

what lies ahead

More metaphorical and emphasizes the unknown aspect of the future.

the shape of things ahead

Emphasizes a prospective future and the form it will take.

future expectations

Highlights the anticipations and possibilities of future events.

ensuing period

Indicates a time that follows a particular event or moment, suggesting a progression of events.

subsequent happenings

Implies a sequence of occurrences following a specific event.

the outlook

Refers to the future prospects or possibilities, usually based on current trends or information.

days to come

Emphasizes the passing of time into the future, highlighting events that will occur over a period.

FAQs

How can I use "things to come" in a sentence?

You can use "things to come" to refer to future events or developments, for example: "This is just a taste of "things to come"" or "We are excited about the "things to come"".

What are some alternatives to "things to come"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "future prospects", "forthcoming events", or "what lies ahead" as alternatives to "things to come".

Is "things to come" formal or informal?

"Things to come" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for both casual conversations and news articles, but might be less appropriate for highly formal academic papers.

What does "a sign of things to come" mean?

"A sign of things to come" indicates that a current event or situation is an indication or predictor of future events or trends. It suggests that similar or related events are likely to occur in the future.