Have you made this common mistake?

Let’s check and find out! 

Have you ever ended your emails with this phrase?

I look forward to meet you! 🙀

Sit down, honey, we need to talk. This is not correct.

These phrases are often used in ending an English email:

I’m looking forward to meeting you!
I look forward to continuing our discussion in person.
I am looking forward to hearing back from you!
I look forward to returning your kind hospitality.


However, there are 2 things that people ask me all the time: 

1. What is the difference between ‘looking forward to’ and ‘look forward to’? 
2. Why is it ‘to meeting’ and ‘to hearing’, etc and not ‘to meet’ and ‘to hear’? 

Guess what? I’ve got answers! Shocking, I know.

1. Both ‘looking forward to’ and ‘look forward to’ are correct. However, there is a slight difference in style. ‘Looking forward to’ is considered to be more informal/casual/friendly in style, whereas ‘look forward to’ is considered to be more formal/polite in style. Use whichever one works for you, depending on how you feel and who you are talking to!

2. You always need a verb + ing after the ‘to’, and here is why: This verb + ing is the prepositional object of the verb. That might sound confusing, but I’d like to give you other examples that follow the same rule, and then it will make more sense. Have a look at these sentences: 

I’m scared of going out at night.
He’s interested in learning Indonesian.
She is fascinated by watching the stars in the sky.
They are irritated by hearing those sirens every day.
I am so angry about losing my keys!
He is frightened of hearing loud noises.


All of the sentences above follow the same rule. After the preposition (of, in, by, about, etc), all of the sentences above take the verb + ing form. ‘To’ is also a preposition. So ‘look forward to’ and ‘looking forward to’ also must be followed by the verb + ing.

Try saying the sentences above without the ‘ing’ form. They should sound strange this way. If they sound normal to you, then you need to hang out with smarter people. 😅

I hope this helps you understand more about this common expression in English and the mistakes you can make without realising it!

This is just one of the dozens of modules you’ll find in my Writing Well program in Communication Nation. I’ve got hundreds of others in the Grammar Gateway, Presentation Playground, Mindset Mansion…and so much more. All 4 minutes or less, designed to fit into your busy schedule. 

Want to find out more?

Click on the link below!

I look forward to seeing you in our Community! 

(See what I did there?) 

Liefs,

Buffi 

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