The phrase “forward to” is often used in expressions like “I look forward to” or when sending an email along, such as “I’ll forward this to you.” While clear and professional, it can sometimes feel repetitive or too formal. Depending on the context, alternatives like “excited about,” “eager for,” or “send along” can make your communication feel fresher and more natural.
Choosing the right alternative helps you set the right tone—whether you’re writing a polite email, expressing enthusiasm, or passing along information. This guide explores practical and engaging alternatives to “forward to” that work well in both professional and casual settings.
Definition: Expressing Anticipation
Expressing anticipation involves conveying a feeling of excitement, eagerness, or expectation about something that is going to happen in the future. The phrase “looking forward to” is a common way to express this sentiment, but English offers a rich variety of alternatives that can be used to add precision and color to your communication.
These alternatives range from formal to informal and can be tailored to the specific context of the situation. Understanding the nuances of these different expressions allows you to communicate your feelings more effectively and appropriately.
The grammatical function of these phrases is typically adjectival or adverbial, modifying verbs or nouns to indicate a state of anticipation. They appear in various forms, including phrasal verbs (e.g., “count on”), prepositional phrases (e.g., “with anticipation”), and idiomatic expressions (e.g., “itching to”).
The context in which they are used affects the specific nuance they convey, whether it’s formal business correspondence, casual conversation, or creative writing.
Structural Breakdown of Alternative Phrases
The structure of phrases that express anticipation can vary significantly, influencing their formality and impact. Understanding these structural elements can help you choose the most appropriate phrase for a given situation.
Here’s a breakdown of common structures:
- Phrasal Verbs: These consist of a verb and a particle (e.g., “count on,” “relish in”). The verb carries the primary meaning, while the particle modifies or enhances it. For example, “I count on seeing you there” implies reliance and expectation.
- Prepositional Phrases: These phrases begin with a preposition (e.g., “with,” “in,” “on”) and are followed by a noun or pronoun (e.g., “with anticipation,” “in eagerness,” “on tenterhooks”). For example, “We await your arrival with anticipation” adds a sense of formal excitement.
- Adjectival Phrases: These phrases use adjectives to describe a state of anticipation (e.g., “eager to,” “excited about”). For example, “I am eager to hear your presentation” conveys enthusiasm.
- Idiomatic Expressions: These are phrases whose meaning cannot be derived from the literal meaning of the words (e.g., “itching to,” “on the edge of my seat”). For example, “I’m itching to start this project” indicates strong desire and impatience.
Each of these structures can be further modified with adverbs to intensify or soften the expression of anticipation. For instance, “I greatly anticipate your visit” adds emphasis, while “I somewhat look forward to the meeting” expresses a milder expectation.
Types of Other Ways to Say Forward To
The various alternatives to “looking forward to” can be categorized based on their formality, context, and the specific nuance they convey. Understanding these categories will help you select the most appropriate phrase for different situations.
Formal Alternatives
Formal alternatives are suitable for professional correspondence, official announcements, and situations where a respectful and courteous tone is required. These phrases often convey a sense of professionalism and decorum.
Examples of formal alternatives include:
- We anticipate…
- We await…
- We expect…
- We trust that…
- We are confident that…
Informal Alternatives
Informal alternatives are appropriate for casual conversations, personal emails, and situations where a relaxed and friendly tone is desired. These phrases often convey a sense of excitement and enthusiasm.
Examples of informal alternatives include:
- I can’t wait…
- I’m so excited…
- I’m stoked…
- I’m pumped…
- I’m eager…
Neutral Alternatives
Neutral alternatives are suitable for a wide range of situations, as they do not carry strong connotations of formality or informality. These phrases are versatile and can be used in both professional and personal contexts.
Examples of neutral alternatives include:
- I expect…
- I anticipate…
- I am eager to…
- I am interested in…
- I am keen to…
Context-Specific Alternatives
Context-specific alternatives are tailored to particular situations or events. These phrases often convey a more precise sense of anticipation, depending on the context.
Examples of context-specific alternatives include:
- For meetings: I am scheduled to…
- For collaborations: I am eager to collaborate…
- For events: I am excited to attend…
- For travel: I am excited about my trip to…
- For deadlines: I am on track to complete…
Examples of Alternatives to “Looking Forward To”
The following tables provide examples of alternative phrases to “looking forward to,” categorized by context. Each table includes a range of formal, informal, and neutral options to illustrate the versatility of these expressions.
General Anticipation
This table provides examples of phrases you can use when expressing general anticipation for an event, meeting, or outcome. The phrases are categorized by formality to help you choose the most appropriate option.
| Formality | Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | We anticipate | We anticipate a successful outcome to the negotiations. |
| Formal | We await | We await your response with great interest. |
| Formal | We expect | We expect to receive the documents by the end of the week. |
| Formal | We trust that | We trust that you will find the information helpful. |
| Formal | We are confident that | We are confident that the project will be completed on time. |
| Neutral | I expect | I expect that the meeting will be productive. |
| Neutral | I anticipate | I anticipate a large turnout for the event. |
| Neutral | I am eager to | I am eager to learn more about the topic. |
| Neutral | I am interested in | I am interested in hearing your perspective on the matter. |
| Neutral | I am keen to | I am keen to start working on the project. |
| Informal | I can’t wait | I can’t wait to see you at the party! |
| Informal | I’m so excited | I’m so excited about the upcoming vacation. |
| Informal | I’m stoked | I’m stoked for the concert next week. |
| Informal | I’m pumped | I’m pumped to get started on this new project. |
| Informal | I’m eager | I’m eager to hear all about your trip. |
| Neutral | Looking forward to | I am looking forward to the presentation tomorrow. |
| Neutral | Anticipating | I’m anticipating a positive response to our proposal. |
| Neutral | Excited for | I’m excited for the upcoming company retreat. |
| Formal | With great anticipation | We await with great anticipation the unveiling of the new product. |
| Informal | Counting down the days | I’m counting down the days until the summer vacation. |
| Neutral | Awaiting eagerly | We are awaiting eagerly the results of the clinical trial. |
| Informal | Buzzing with excitement | I’m buzzing with excitement about the new job opportunity. |
| Formal | It is with great interest that we anticipate | It is with great interest that we anticipate the publication of your research. |
Meetings and Events
This table provides specific phrases for expressing anticipation related to meetings and events. These phrases are tailored to professional and casual settings, ensuring you convey the right tone.
| Formality | Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | We anticipate attending | We anticipate attending the conference and networking with industry leaders. |
| Formal | We look forward to the opportunity to | We look forward to the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you. |
| Formal | We are scheduled to | We are scheduled to meet with the client next week to finalize the details. |
| Formal | We are pleased to confirm our attendance | We are pleased to confirm our attendance at the upcoming gala. |
| Formal | We are eager to participate in | We are eager to participate in the workshop and learn new skills. |
| Neutral | I am planning to attend | I am planning to attend the seminar on sustainable development. |
| Neutral | I am interested in attending | I am interested in attending the webinar on digital marketing. |
| Neutral | I am keen to participate in | I am keen to participate in the team-building activities. |
| Neutral | I am set to join | I am set to join the meeting via video conference. |
| Neutral | I am looking forward to participating in | I am looking forward to participating in the charity run. |
| Informal | Can’t wait to see you at | Can’t wait to see you at the concert! |
| Informal | So excited to go to | I’m so excited to go to the music festival this summer. |
| Informal | Pumped for | I’m pumped for the work party this Friday. |
| Informal | Stoked about | I’m stoked about the upcoming product launch event. |
| Informal | Eager to attend | I’m eager to attend the networking event and meet new people. |
| Neutral | Anticipating the meeting | I’m anticipating the meeting with the new investors. |
| Neutral | Looking forward to the conference | I’m looking forward to the conference next month in Chicago. |
| Neutral | Excited about the workshop | I’m excited about the workshop on data analytics. |
| Formal | It would be a pleasure to attend | It would be a pleasure to attend the annual shareholders meeting. |
| Informal | Counting the sleeps until | I’m counting the sleeps until the big game. |
| Neutral | Awaiting the launch | We are awaiting the launch of the new software update. |
| Informal | Buzzing for | I’m buzzing for the stand-up comedy show this weekend. |
| Formal | We are particularly interested in | We are particularly interested in the keynote speaker’s address. |
Collaborations and Projects
This table provides phrases that are particularly useful when expressing anticipation for collaborations and projects. They can be used in emails, project proposals, and team meetings to convey enthusiasm and commitment.
| Formality | Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | We are eager to collaborate | We are eager to collaborate with your team on this innovative project. |
| Formal | We anticipate a successful partnership | We anticipate a successful partnership and look forward to achieving our mutual goals. |
| Formal | We look forward to working together | We look forward to working together to develop a groundbreaking solution. |
| Formal | We are confident in our ability to | We are confident in our ability to deliver exceptional results in this collaboration. |
| Formal | We are committed to | We are committed to ensuring the success of this project through our collaborative efforts. |
| Neutral | I am excited to begin | I am excited to begin working on this new project with you. |
| Neutral | I am interested in contributing to | I am interested in contributing to the development of this important initiative. |
| Neutral | I am keen to start | I am keen to start collaborating on this project as soon as possible. |
| Neutral | I am planning to contribute | I am planning to contribute my expertise to this collaborative effort. |
| Neutral | I am anticipating a fruitful collaboration | I am anticipating a fruitful collaboration and a positive outcome. |
| Informal | Can’t wait to team up | Can’t wait to team up and kick off this project! |
| Informal | So excited to work with you | I’m so excited to work with you on this exciting project. |
| Informal | Pumped to collaborate | I’m pumped to collaborate on this innovative initiative. |
| Informal | Stoked about the opportunity | I’m stoked about the opportunity to work together on this. |
| Informal | Eager to get started | I’m eager to get started and see what we can accomplish together. |
| Neutral | Awaiting the project kickoff | I’m awaiting the project kickoff with great enthusiasm. |
| Neutral | Excited for the teamwork | I’m excited for the teamwork and collaborative spirit of this project. |
| Neutral | Looking forward to the partnership | I’m looking forward to the partnership and the innovative solutions we’ll create. |
| Formal | We are pleased to engage in | We are pleased to engage in this collaborative effort with your esteemed organization. |
| Informal | Counting down the days to start | I’m counting down the days to start working on this awesome project. |
| Neutral | Anticipating a productive partnership | We are anticipating a productive partnership and a successful project outcome. |
| Informal | Buzzing to start the project | I’m buzzing to start the project and see our ideas come to life. |
| Formal | We are especially interested in | We are especially interested in exploring new avenues for collaboration. |
Usage Rules for Alternative Phrases
When using alternatives to “looking forward to,” it’s essential to follow proper grammar and usage rules. Here are some key guidelines:
- Verb Tense: Ensure that the verb tense aligns with the time frame you are referring to. For example, use the present tense for ongoing anticipation and the future tense for events that will happen later.
- Prepositions: Pay attention to the correct prepositions to use with different phrases. For example, “eager to” is followed by a verb in the base form, while “excited about” is followed by a noun or gerund.
- Formality: Choose phrases that match the formality of the context. Avoid using informal expressions in professional settings and vice versa.
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure that the subject and verb agree in number and person. For example, “I am excited” is correct, while “I is excited” is incorrect.
- Clarity: Use clear and concise language to avoid ambiguity. Ensure that your meaning is easily understood by your audience.
It’s also important to vary your language to avoid repetition. While “looking forward to” is a common phrase, using a range of alternatives will make your writing and speaking more engaging and effective.
Common Mistakes When Using Alternatives
Even experienced English speakers sometimes make mistakes when using alternatives to “looking forward to.” Here are some common errors to avoid:
- Incorrect Prepositions: Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning of a phrase or make it grammatically incorrect. For example, saying “excited with” instead of “excited about.”
- Mismatched Formality: Using overly formal language in a casual setting or vice versa can sound awkward or insincere.
- Tense Errors: Using the wrong verb tense can confuse the reader or listener. For example, saying “I was anticipating” when you mean “I am anticipating.”
- Overuse of One Phrase: Relying too heavily on a single alternative can make your language sound repetitive and monotonous.
- Incorrect Word Choice: Choosing a word that doesn’t quite fit the context can create confusion or miscommunication.
Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I am exciting to see you. | I am excited to see you. | “Exciting” describes something that causes excitement, while “excited” describes feeling excitement. |
| We anticipate for your response. | We anticipate your response. | “Anticipate” does not require the preposition “for.” |
| I can’t wait to meeting you. | I can’t wait to meet you. | “Can’t wait to” is followed by the base form of the verb. |
| I’m interesting in the project. | I’m interested in the project. | “Interesting” describes something that causes interest, while “interested” describes feeling interest. |
| We are looking forward for your reply. | We are looking forward to your reply. | The correct preposition to use with “looking forward” is “to.” |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of alternatives to “looking forward to” with these practice exercises. Choose the most appropriate phrase to complete each sentence.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct alternative.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| I __________ hearing from you soon. | a) anticipate, b) anticipating, c) anticipates | a) anticipate |
| We are __________ to collaborate with your team. | a) eager, b) eagerly, c) eagerness | a) eager |
| I __________ the meeting next week. | a) can’t wait, b) can’t waiting, c) can’t waited | a) can’t wait |
| They are __________ about the upcoming conference. | a) exciting, b) excited, c) excites | b) excited |
| We __________ that you will find our proposal satisfactory. | a) trust, b) trusting, c) trusted | a) trust |
| I am __________ in learning more about this topic. | a) interesting, b) interested, c) interest | b) interested |
| He is __________ to start working on the project. | a) keen, b) keenly, c) keenness | a) keen |
| I am __________ a positive outcome. | a) expecting, b) expect, c) expects | a) expecting |
| We are __________ to see you at the event. | a) please, b) pleasing, c) pleased | c) pleased |
| I am __________ the days until the vacation. | a) counting, b) count, c) counts | a) counting |
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using an alternative to “looking forward to.”
- I am looking forward to the party.
- We are looking forward to your presentation.
- They are looking forward to the concert.
- She is looking forward to the meeting.
- He is looking forward to the vacation.
- I am looking forward to working with you.
- We are looking forward to hearing from you.
- They are looking forward to the results.
- She is looking forward to the opportunity.
- He is looking forward to the challenge.
Answers to Exercise 2:
- I can’t wait for the party.
- We anticipate your presentation.
- They are excited about the concert.
- She is eager for the meeting.
- He is counting down the days until the vacation.
- I am keen to work with you.
- We await hearing from you.
- They are anticipating the results.
- She is pleased about the opportunity.
- He is excited about the challenge.
Advanced Topics in Expressing Anticipation
For advanced learners, exploring more nuanced and sophisticated ways to express anticipation can significantly enhance their communication skills. This involves understanding subtle differences in meaning and using more idiomatic expressions.
- Idiomatic Expressions: Mastering idiomatic expressions such as “on the edge of my seat,” “itching to,” and “in suspense” can add color and depth to your language. These expressions often convey a stronger sense of anticipation than more literal phrases.
- Figurative Language: Using metaphors and similes can create vivid images and convey your feelings more effectively. For example, “I feel like a kid on Christmas morning” is a more expressive way to describe excitement than “I am excited.”
- Subtleties of Formality: Understanding the nuances of formal language can help you choose the most appropriate phrase for professional settings. For example, “We await your response with bated breath” is a more formal and dramatic way to express anticipation than “We are eagerly awaiting your response.”
By delving deeper into these advanced topics, you can refine your ability to express anticipation in a way that is both precise and engaging.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some frequently asked questions about alternatives to “looking forward to”:
- Q: Is “looking forward to” always appropriate?
A: While “looking forward to” is generally acceptable, it can become repetitive if used too frequently. Varying your language with alternatives can make your communication more engaging and effective. - Q: How do I choose the right alternative?
A: Consider the context, your audience, and the level of formality required. Choose a phrase that accurately reflects your feelings and is appropriate for the situation. - Q: Are there any alternatives that should be avoided?
A: Avoid using overly casual or slang expressions in professional settings. Also, be mindful of any cultural differences that may affect the interpretation of certain phrases. - Q: Can I use multiple phrases in the same message?
A: Yes, varying your language can make your communication more interesting and prevent repetition. However, be sure to use each phrase appropriately and avoid mixing overly formal and informal expressions. - Q: How can I improve my vocabulary of alternatives?
A: Read widely, listen to native speakers, and practice using new phrases in your writing and speaking. Pay attention to how different phrases are used in context and make a note of any new expressions you encounter. - Q: What’s the difference between “anticipate” and “expect”?
A: While both words convey a sense of looking ahead, “anticipate” often carries a stronger sense of excitement or eagerness, whereas “expect” is more neutral and simply implies a belief that something will happen. - Q: Is it okay to use “can’t wait” in professional emails?
A: “Can’t wait” is generally considered informal and is best reserved for casual communication. In professional emails, opt for more neutral or formal alternatives like “I anticipate” or “I am eager to.” - Q: How do I express mild anticipation?
A: Use phrases like “I am somewhat looking forward to,” “I am mildly interested in,” or “I anticipate with moderate interest” to convey a less intense level of excitement.
Conclusion
Mastering alternatives to “looking forward to” is a valuable skill that can enhance your communication in various contexts. By understanding the nuances of different phrases and choosing the most appropriate expression for each situation, you can add precision, color, and sophistication to your language.
Whether you are writing a formal business letter or having a casual conversation, a diverse vocabulary of alternatives will help you convey your feelings more effectively.
Remember to consider the context, your audience, and the level of formality required when choosing an alternative phrase. Practice using new expressions in your writing and speaking to become more comfortable and confident in your ability to express anticipation.
With consistent effort, you can refine your communication skills and make a lasting impression on others.