what to expect

USAGE SUMMARY

"what to expect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to clarify a situation or when introducing the contents of an upcoming event. For example: "At the upcoming seminar, we will discuss what to expect from the new health care legislation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here's what to expect.

Independent

What to expect?

The New York Times - Travel

I knew what to expect.

Independent

We know what to expect.

The New York Times

Goddard knows what to expect.

Independent

Here is what to expect.

The New York Times

We knew what to expect".

The New York Times - Sports

He knows what to expect.

The New York Times - Sports

"Nobody knows what to expect".

The New York Times - Sports

What to expect now?

The New York Times

So what to expect?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase in a title or heading, ensure that the subsequent content directly addresses the promised information to maintain trust

Common error

Do not add a preposition like "for" at the end of the phrase. Say "I am unsure "what to expect"" rather than "I am unsure "what to expect for"", as the verb "expect" is already transitive in this context

Linguistic Context

In linguistic structures, "what to expect" serves as a nominal clause or an interrogative infinitive phrase. It often functions as the direct object of a verb such as "know", "understand" or "predict". According to Ludwig AI, it is a standard construction used to represent an indirect question.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what to expect" is an essential tool in English for signaling upcoming information and managing the anticipation of events. As confirmed by Ludwig AI and validated by dozens of examples from prestigious sources like The New York Times and BBC, it is grammatically correct and versatile. It functions effectively both as a standalone title and as a direct object in complex sentences. Writers should feel confident using it in any register, from neutral news reporting to formal business strategy. To improve your prose, ensure that when you use "what to expect", you follow up with clear, actionable details that satisfy the reader's curiosity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what to anticipate

Slightly more formal synonym for expect

what is anticipated

Uses a more formal passive construction suitable for reports

what will happen

A direct, simplified future tense phrasing

what to look for

Emphasizes the specific indicators or signs one should observe

what lies ahead

More idiomatic and suggestive of a journey or long-term future

anticipated outcomes

More academic and focused on the results of a process

what's in store

A more conversational and slightly mysterious idiom

the expected results

Shifts the focus from the action of expecting to the items themselves

likely scenarios

Focuses on potential variations or different versions of the future

potential developments

Professional phrasing often used in business or geopolitical analysis

FAQs

How to use "what to expect" in a sentence?

You can use it as a direct object after verbs like "know", "tell" or "discuss". For example: "The guide tells you exactly "what to expect" during the tour".

What can I say instead of "what to expect"?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/what+to+look+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what to look for", "<a href="/s/what+is+anticipated" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what is anticipated" or "<a href="/s/what+to+anticipate" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what to anticipate".

Which is correct, "what to expect" or "what to expects"?

Only "what to expect" is correct because the "to" must be followed by the base form of the verb, not the third-person singular form.

What is the difference between "what to expect" and "what's going to happen"?

While "what to expect" focuses on the observer's awareness, "<a href="/s/what's+going+to+happen" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what's going to happen" describes the events themselves objectively.