to be printed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be printed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that is intended to be produced in printed form, such as documents, images, or materials. Example: "The final version of the report is ready and will be sent to the printer to be printed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"My bumper stickers are ready to be printed," he said.

The New York Times

He quickly ordered 25,000 more copies to be printed.

MIT Technology Review

Why did you feel this had to be printed?

The New Yorker

The assembly process required the ad to be printed, the envelopes to be printed and the envelope inserts to be printed, then the whole piece assembled, before the ads were sent for binding.

The New York Times

"It ought to be printed as well as played," he said.

The New Yorker

What if any discussions took place before editors sent page 11 to be printed?

Independent

But they were made to be printed onto contact-speed papers.

The New York Times

True, e-books do not need to be printed and shipped to retailers.

The Economist

This last was the first of Lopes' works to be printed (1644).

Encyclopedia Britannica

They get better margins for digital books because they don't have to be printed and distributed.

Independent

Ray Charles shrugged it off, saying, "Drunken talk isn't meant to be printed in the paper".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be printed", ensure the context clearly indicates what item is being referred to. For example, "The document is ready to be printed."

Common error

Avoid using "to be printed" when an active construction is clearer. Instead of "The report needs to be to be printed by tomorrow", say "We must print the report by tomorrow".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be printed" functions as a passive infinitive, indicating an action that will be performed on a subject. It's frequently used to describe documents, images, or materials that are intended for production in printed form, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

23%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to be printed" is a common and grammatically sound passive infinitive used to indicate that something is intended for printing. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its widespread use across various contexts, including news, science, and general instructions. While alternatives like "ready for print" or "for publication" exist, "to be printed" remains a versatile and clear choice for expressing the future action of printing, as long as the subject and context are well-defined. When aiming for concision and clarity, especially in active voice constructions, it's important to review whether rephrasing the sentence by using the active voice is more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set to be printed

Emphasizes the planned and imminent nature of the printing process.

ready for print

Focuses on the state of readiness rather than the action of printing.

designed for printing

Highlights the purposeful design of something specifically made to be printed.

meant for print

Suggests a designed or purposed intention for printing.

slated for printing

Implies a scheduled or planned printing process.

up for printing

Indicates an upcoming opportunity or availability for printing.

awaiting print

Focuses on the state of waiting before the printing action occurs.

designated for print

Highlights that something has been specifically chosen or assigned to be printed.

in line for print

Conveys that something is next in a sequence of items to be printed.

intended for publication

Emphasizes the goal of making something public through printing.

FAQs

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

You can use "to be printed" to indicate something that is scheduled or intended for printing. For example: "The final version is ready "ready for print"" or "The poster needs "to be published" soon".

What are some alternatives to saying "to be printed"?

Alternatives include "ready for printing", "for publication", or "awaiting print", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "to be printed" and "for printing"?

"To be printed" often implies a future action or intention, such as "These documents are to be printed tomorrow". "For printing" describes suitability or purpose, such as "This paper is designed for printing".

When is it better to use the active voice instead of "to be printed"?

In many cases, using the active voice makes your sentence more concise and direct. For instance, instead of "The brochure is to be printed by the marketing team", you can say "The marketing team will print the brochure".