would be going

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "would be going" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express a future event or activity that is likely to occur. For example: "We would be going on vacation if the pandemic had not started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That would be going too far, however.

The Economist

She would be going to Stanford.

Stanford University

I would be going it alone.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They would be going against public opinion".

The New York Times

Now, they would be going somewhere else.

The New York Times

That would be going too far.

The Guardian - Sport

"I thought we would be going somewhere really exotic.

Independent

Her two cats would be going with her.

The New York Times

But Mr Rossi believes abolition would be going too far.

Independent

'For Sale' signs would be going up all round me".

Independent

"The president would be going back on his word.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be going" to describe hypothetical or conditional future actions, especially when discussing past intentions or unrealized plans. For instance: "They "would be going" to Europe this summer, but the trip was canceled."

Common error

Avoid using "would be going" when a simple future tense like "will be going" is more appropriate for expressing definite future plans. "Would be going" implies a degree of uncertainty or conditionality, whereas "will be going" expresses a firm intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be going" functions as a future-in-the-past construction, often expressing a conditional or hypothetical action in the future from a past perspective. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates an action that was planned or expected but not necessarily realized. This is supported by examples found in news media and academic texts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

24%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would be going" is a versatile phrase primarily used to express future actions or states from a past perspective, often with an element of conditionality or uncertainty. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and everyday conversations. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. To ensure correct usage, remember that "would be going" is best employed when discussing hypothetical scenarios, past intentions, or unrealized plans. Avoid it in situations that require a definitive future tense. By understanding these nuances, you can confidently and accurately integrate the phrase "would be going" into your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were going to go

Expresses a past intention or plan that did not necessarily happen, similar to "would be going" in hypothetical contexts.

are scheduled to go

Indicates a planned event in the future, focusing on the scheduling aspect. More concrete than "would be going".

will be heading

Describes a future movement or direction with a slightly more informal tone compared to "would be going".

are intending to go

Implies a current intention for a future action, similar to "would be going" but more explicit about the intention.

might be traveling

Expresses a possibility of traveling, similar to the uncertainty aspect of "would be going" in some contexts.

are planning to attend

Signifies a plan to be present at a particular event, more specific than the general sense of "would be going".

may be departing

Indicates a potential future departure, emphasizing the act of leaving. Slightly more formal than "would be going".

could be visiting

Expresses the possibility of a future visit, sharing the hypothetical nature of "would be going".

are expected to visit

Highlights an expectation of a future visit, differing from the conditional nature of "would be going".

anticipate going

Expresses anticipation for a future event, sharing a sense of expectation with certain uses of "would be going".

FAQs

How can I use "would be going" in a sentence?

You can use "would be going" to express a future action that is conditional or hypothetical. For example, "If the weather were better, we "would be going" to the beach."

What's a less formal alternative to "would be going"?

Less formal alternatives include "were going to go" or "will be heading", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "would be going" and "will be going"?

"Would be going" suggests a conditional or hypothetical situation, while "will be going" indicates a definite future action. The choice depends on whether the action is certain or dependent on specific conditions.

When is it appropriate to use "would be going" instead of "was going to go"?

"Would be going" is often used in hypothetical scenarios or when discussing past intentions that didn't happen. "Was going to go" refers to a past intention. For example, "He said he "was going to go", but changed his mind", versus "If he had the money, he "would be going" on vacation".