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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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to contributing

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to contributing" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "to contribute" when used in a context that requires the infinitive form of the verb. Example: "I am committed to contribute to the success of the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Nobody likes to sit around when they're used to contributing".

I look forward to contributing to this work".

News & Media

The Guardian

"We look forward to contributing in a material way to the revitalization of downtown Manhattan.

News & Media

The New York Times

"The Segway gives people an alternative to contributing to a polluted environment cluttered with automobiles".

News & Media

The New York Times

I'm looking forward to contributing to the diverse and important work it carries out".

News & Media

The Guardian

He's looking forward to contributing to the TSC's review of QE.

He also pleaded guilty to contributing money, goods and services to the terrorist group.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We are looking forward to contributing to lower power costs on Long Island," he said.

News & Media

The New York Times

Woodburn said he was looking forward to "contributing to the company's continued growth and development".

There is a certain commitment to contributing that you don't get with other social networks.

Guardian Australia spoke to contributing artist and light worker Iain Reed.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the infinitive form "to contribute" when intending to express purpose or intent. For example, instead of "I am looking forward to contributing", say "I am looking forward to contribute".

Common error

Avoid using the gerund form ("contributing") after "to" when the infinitive form ("contribute") is grammatically required. This error often occurs when writers mistakenly treat "to" as a preposition instead of part of the infinitive.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to contributing" functions as part of a prepositional phrase, often intended to express purpose or intention. However, it incorrectly uses the gerund form after the preposition "to" where the infinitive form is required. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, which identifies it as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to contributing" is frequently used, but technically incorrect in standard written English. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it violates grammatical rules regarding the use of infinitives. While common, especially in News & Media, Science, and Business contexts, it's advisable to use the correct infinitive form "to contribute" or rephrase the sentence for grammatical accuracy. Alternatives include using different prepositions or restructuring the sentence to emphasize the noun form of "contribution". Always prioritize grammatical precision, especially in formal writing. If you want to use the structure "looking forward to", you should use a noun, like in the sentence "I'm looking forward to your contribution".

FAQs

How to correctly use "to contribute" in a sentence?

Use the infinitive form "to contribute" to express purpose or intent. For example, "I am committed "to contribute" to the project's success" is grammatically correct, while "I am committed to contributing" is generally considered incorrect.

What is the difference between "to contribute" and "to contributing"?

"To contribute" is the infinitive form of the verb, used to express purpose. "To contributing" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts where the infinitive is needed. You might consider other phrasings like "toward contribution" but those would require additional changes in the overall sentence.

Which is correct, "looking forward to contribute" or "looking forward to contributing"?

While the expression "looking forward to contributing" is frequently used, it's technically incorrect. The more grammatically sound option would be to rephrase the sentence. But if you really want to use the structure "looking forward to", you should use a noun, like in the sentence "I'm looking forward to your contribution".

What can I say instead of "to contribute"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to assist", "to help", or "to aid". For example, "I want "to assist" in this project".

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Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: