would be signed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be signed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a future action that is conditional or dependent on another event or situation. Example: "The contract would be signed once both parties agree on the terms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The agreement would be signed in mid-January in Mexico.

Harvard University

It would be signed by more than 566,000 people.

The New York Times

Kyoto, or something like it, would be signed.

The Guardian

It would be signed off by the commander".

The Guardian

No agreements would be signed or joint statements agreed to, he added.

Independent

With seven years beyond his current contract, Wright would be signed with the Mets through 2020.

The New York Times - Sports

A significant package of infrastructure investments would be signed into law, of course.

The Washington Post

At 4pm, Napthine alerted the media that the contract would be signed at 4.45pm.

The Guardian

But both men stopped short of saying that such an accord would be signed.

The New York Times

I met an American couple who hadn't realised it would be signed.

The Guardian

His trade secretary, Ramon Lopez, said $13.5bn£11bnbn) in deals would be signed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be signed" when expressing a conditional future event, particularly in formal or professional contexts where indicating expectation or agreement is crucial. For example, "The agreement "would be signed" once all parties reached a consensus".

Common error

Avoid using "would be signed" when a simple future tense ("will be signed") is more appropriate. "Would" implies conditionality or a past-future perspective, so using it in straightforward future statements can sound unnatural. For instance, instead of saying "The document "would be signed" tomorrow", it's clearer to say "The document will be signed tomorrow".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be signed" functions as a passive voice construction indicating a conditional future action. It combines the modal verb 'would' with the passive form 'be signed' to express that an action is expected to occur under certain conditions. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would be signed" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate a conditional future action, primarily in formal contexts such as news, business, and academic settings. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses the expectation or anticipation of a formal execution (like signing a document) contingent on specific circumstances. While versatile, it's important to use "would be signed" judiciously, avoiding overuse in simple future contexts where "will be signed" is more appropriate. By understanding its specific nuance, writers can ensure clear and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is expected to be signed

Uses "is expected to be" to indicate anticipation or probability of the signing.

will likely be signed

Employs "will likely be" to express a high probability of the event occurring.

is set to be signed

Replaces "would be" with "is set to be", denoting a planned or arranged event.

is scheduled for signing

Replaces "would be" with "is scheduled for", emphasizing a planned event.

is due to be signed

Indicates the signing is scheduled or expected at a particular time.

is anticipated to be signed

Substitutes "would be" with "is anticipated to be", suggesting a degree of expectation.

is on track to be signed

Suggests the signing is progressing as planned and is likely to occur.

is poised to be signed

Implies readiness and expectation for the signing to take place.

shall be signed

A more formal or legalistic way of saying "will be signed".

will be ratified

Implies that the document is not only signed but also formally approved.

FAQs

How is "would be signed" used in a sentence?

The phrase "would be signed" typically indicates a conditional future action, suggesting that an agreement, contract, or document is expected to be signed under certain circumstances. For example: "The contract "would be signed" if all conditions are met."

What are some alternatives to "would be signed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "is expected to be signed", "is scheduled for signing", or "will likely be signed".

What is the difference between "will be signed" and "would be signed"?

"Will be signed" indicates a simple future event, while "would be signed" often implies a conditional or hypothetical situation. "The contract will be signed tomorrow" expresses a definite plan. "The contract "would be signed" if the negotiations succeed" presents a condition.

Is it correct to say "will have been signed" instead of "would be signed"?

"Will have been signed" is in the future perfect tense and indicates an action that will be completed by a specific time in the future. It is different from "would be signed", which describes a conditional or expected future action. For instance, "By next week, the agreement will have been signed" is about completion, whereas "The agreement "would be signed" next week if approved" expresses a condition.