what we are going to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What we are going to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask questions or to introduce phrases about the future. For example: What are we going to do next? We are going to celebrate our success.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's what we are going to do".

The New Yorker

"That's not what we are going to permit".

The New York Times

"That's what we are going to be talking about".

The New York Times

It broadens what we are going to do".

The New York Times

And that's what we are going to discuss now.

Yale University

And that's what we are going to see today.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That is what we are going to learn now.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

So, that's what we are going to see next.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It's about what we are going to do".

The New Yorker

We are talking about what we are going to do".

The New York Times

"That's what we are going to find out," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary sentence structure by occasionally using synonyms like "what we intend to do" or "our plans" to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "what we are going to" to describe past events or actions. It should only refer to future plans and intentions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what we are going to" serves as an introducer of future actions or intentions. It is typically used to explain, predict, or state plans, as supported by Ludwig examples like "That's what we are going to discuss now" and "It's about what we are going to do".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what we are going to" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to introduce future actions or intentions. According to Ludwig, it’s applicable in various contexts, particularly in news, media and academic settings. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it's important to consider more formal alternatives in professional or scientific writing. Keep in mind that the best usage is to refer to plans not yet realized, and you should ensure that context provides necessary details for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what we intend to do

Replaces "going to" with "intend to", focusing on planned actions.

what we are planning to do

Emphasizes the planning stage of the intended action.

what we will be doing

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the future action.

what our plans are

Shifts the focus to explicitly stating plans rather than implying future action.

what we shall do

Uses "shall" as a more formal or archaic way to indicate future action.

the course of action we'll take

Emphasizes the decisiveness and direction of the future action.

what we aim to achieve

Highlights the desired outcome or goal of the future action.

how we will proceed

Focuses on the method or manner in which the action will be carried out.

what's in store for us

Focuses on future events or experiences, often implying uncertainty.

what the future holds

A broader, more philosophical way to refer to future possibilities.

FAQs

How can I use "what we are going to" in a sentence?

You can use "what we are going to" to express future plans or intentions, for example: "That's "what we are going to discuss" now" or "We will see later "what we are going to do"".

What are some alternatives to "what we are going to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "what we intend to do", "what our plans are", or "what we shall do", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is there a difference between "what we are going to do" and "what we will do"?

"What we are going to do" often implies a pre-existing intention or plan, while "what we will do" can indicate a more spontaneous decision or prediction. Both are generally interchangeable, but the former emphasizes preparedness.

When is it appropriate to use "what we are going to" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "what we intend to do" or "the course of action we'll take" in highly formal contexts to maintain a professional tone.