Is “looking to” considered proper English?
Is it proper, grammatical English to say,
"Are you looking to move?"
Should it not be:
- "Are you interested in moving?"
- "Are you thinking of moving?"
grammaticality
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
add a comment |
Is it proper, grammatical English to say,
"Are you looking to move?"
Should it not be:
- "Are you interested in moving?"
- "Are you thinking of moving?"
grammaticality
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
3
I don't know about proper, but it is colloquial. I will say that in my neck of the woods at least, looking to is a "stronger" feeling than just thinking or having an interest of/in doing something.
– VampDuc
Sep 19 '16 at 16:04
It's definitely idiomatic in the US. Wouldn't be considered "formal", but would not draw the slightest raised eyebrow in ordinary conversation.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:35
@VampDuc -- And the construction "rolls off the tongue" more smoothly, since it uses the "normal" tense of the object verb vs using the -ing tense.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:39
"Look" is featured in many idioms: "look up" means research but "look up to" means respect, "look down on" means disrespect or disapprove, "look after" means care for, "look out" means beware, etc.
– Scott
Sep 20 '16 at 4:43
add a comment |
Is it proper, grammatical English to say,
"Are you looking to move?"
Should it not be:
- "Are you interested in moving?"
- "Are you thinking of moving?"
grammaticality
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
Is it proper, grammatical English to say,
"Are you looking to move?"
Should it not be:
- "Are you interested in moving?"
- "Are you thinking of moving?"
grammaticality
grammaticality
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
edited Sep 19 '16 at 17:54
Helmar
4,95472361
4,95472361
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
asked Sep 19 '16 at 16:01
MarisaMarisa
41
41
3
I don't know about proper, but it is colloquial. I will say that in my neck of the woods at least, looking to is a "stronger" feeling than just thinking or having an interest of/in doing something.
– VampDuc
Sep 19 '16 at 16:04
It's definitely idiomatic in the US. Wouldn't be considered "formal", but would not draw the slightest raised eyebrow in ordinary conversation.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:35
@VampDuc -- And the construction "rolls off the tongue" more smoothly, since it uses the "normal" tense of the object verb vs using the -ing tense.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:39
"Look" is featured in many idioms: "look up" means research but "look up to" means respect, "look down on" means disrespect or disapprove, "look after" means care for, "look out" means beware, etc.
– Scott
Sep 20 '16 at 4:43
add a comment |
3
I don't know about proper, but it is colloquial. I will say that in my neck of the woods at least, looking to is a "stronger" feeling than just thinking or having an interest of/in doing something.
– VampDuc
Sep 19 '16 at 16:04
It's definitely idiomatic in the US. Wouldn't be considered "formal", but would not draw the slightest raised eyebrow in ordinary conversation.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:35
@VampDuc -- And the construction "rolls off the tongue" more smoothly, since it uses the "normal" tense of the object verb vs using the -ing tense.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:39
"Look" is featured in many idioms: "look up" means research but "look up to" means respect, "look down on" means disrespect or disapprove, "look after" means care for, "look out" means beware, etc.
– Scott
Sep 20 '16 at 4:43
3
3
I don't know about proper, but it is colloquial. I will say that in my neck of the woods at least, looking to is a "stronger" feeling than just thinking or having an interest of/in doing something.
– VampDuc
Sep 19 '16 at 16:04
I don't know about proper, but it is colloquial. I will say that in my neck of the woods at least, looking to is a "stronger" feeling than just thinking or having an interest of/in doing something.
– VampDuc
Sep 19 '16 at 16:04
It's definitely idiomatic in the US. Wouldn't be considered "formal", but would not draw the slightest raised eyebrow in ordinary conversation.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:35
It's definitely idiomatic in the US. Wouldn't be considered "formal", but would not draw the slightest raised eyebrow in ordinary conversation.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:35
@VampDuc -- And the construction "rolls off the tongue" more smoothly, since it uses the "normal" tense of the object verb vs using the -ing tense.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:39
@VampDuc -- And the construction "rolls off the tongue" more smoothly, since it uses the "normal" tense of the object verb vs using the -ing tense.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:39
"Look" is featured in many idioms: "look up" means research but "look up to" means respect, "look down on" means disrespect or disapprove, "look after" means care for, "look out" means beware, etc.
– Scott
Sep 20 '16 at 4:43
"Look" is featured in many idioms: "look up" means research but "look up to" means respect, "look down on" means disrespect or disapprove, "look after" means care for, "look out" means beware, etc.
– Scott
Sep 20 '16 at 4:43
add a comment |
2 Answers
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The Free Dictionary site includes citations from the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms, and The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs with meanings of to plan or expect something to happen. There's no special indication as to the informality or correctness of the expression. There would be nothing surprising or even particularly informal about the phrase in (American) business meetings: "We're looking to increase revenues by 200 per cent over the next three years". The frequency of usage may vary regionally, but I can't imagine a speaker of American English who would be surprised or "put off" by this usage. Similarly, "looking at" is not infrequently used to mean considering or contemplating an option or possibility: "Are they looking at eliminating staff?"
add a comment |
It's certainly grammatical. "Are you [gerund] [infinitive]?" is a common enough pattern. So much that I find it hard to answer any objection because I can't see what the objection might be.
Look meaning "plan" or "expect" is a long-standing sense.
… and by midnight look to hear further from me. — "All's Well That Ends Well", Act III, Scene 6.
Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: — "The Comedy of Errors", Act V, Scene 1.
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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The Free Dictionary site includes citations from the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms, and The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs with meanings of to plan or expect something to happen. There's no special indication as to the informality or correctness of the expression. There would be nothing surprising or even particularly informal about the phrase in (American) business meetings: "We're looking to increase revenues by 200 per cent over the next three years". The frequency of usage may vary regionally, but I can't imagine a speaker of American English who would be surprised or "put off" by this usage. Similarly, "looking at" is not infrequently used to mean considering or contemplating an option or possibility: "Are they looking at eliminating staff?"
add a comment |
The Free Dictionary site includes citations from the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms, and The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs with meanings of to plan or expect something to happen. There's no special indication as to the informality or correctness of the expression. There would be nothing surprising or even particularly informal about the phrase in (American) business meetings: "We're looking to increase revenues by 200 per cent over the next three years". The frequency of usage may vary regionally, but I can't imagine a speaker of American English who would be surprised or "put off" by this usage. Similarly, "looking at" is not infrequently used to mean considering or contemplating an option or possibility: "Are they looking at eliminating staff?"
add a comment |
The Free Dictionary site includes citations from the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms, and The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs with meanings of to plan or expect something to happen. There's no special indication as to the informality or correctness of the expression. There would be nothing surprising or even particularly informal about the phrase in (American) business meetings: "We're looking to increase revenues by 200 per cent over the next three years". The frequency of usage may vary regionally, but I can't imagine a speaker of American English who would be surprised or "put off" by this usage. Similarly, "looking at" is not infrequently used to mean considering or contemplating an option or possibility: "Are they looking at eliminating staff?"
The Free Dictionary site includes citations from the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms, and The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs with meanings of to plan or expect something to happen. There's no special indication as to the informality or correctness of the expression. There would be nothing surprising or even particularly informal about the phrase in (American) business meetings: "We're looking to increase revenues by 200 per cent over the next three years". The frequency of usage may vary regionally, but I can't imagine a speaker of American English who would be surprised or "put off" by this usage. Similarly, "looking at" is not infrequently used to mean considering or contemplating an option or possibility: "Are they looking at eliminating staff?"
answered Sep 19 '16 at 16:43
user193445
add a comment |
add a comment |
It's certainly grammatical. "Are you [gerund] [infinitive]?" is a common enough pattern. So much that I find it hard to answer any objection because I can't see what the objection might be.
Look meaning "plan" or "expect" is a long-standing sense.
… and by midnight look to hear further from me. — "All's Well That Ends Well", Act III, Scene 6.
Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: — "The Comedy of Errors", Act V, Scene 1.
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
add a comment |
It's certainly grammatical. "Are you [gerund] [infinitive]?" is a common enough pattern. So much that I find it hard to answer any objection because I can't see what the objection might be.
Look meaning "plan" or "expect" is a long-standing sense.
… and by midnight look to hear further from me. — "All's Well That Ends Well", Act III, Scene 6.
Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: — "The Comedy of Errors", Act V, Scene 1.
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
add a comment |
It's certainly grammatical. "Are you [gerund] [infinitive]?" is a common enough pattern. So much that I find it hard to answer any objection because I can't see what the objection might be.
Look meaning "plan" or "expect" is a long-standing sense.
… and by midnight look to hear further from me. — "All's Well That Ends Well", Act III, Scene 6.
Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: — "The Comedy of Errors", Act V, Scene 1.
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
It's certainly grammatical. "Are you [gerund] [infinitive]?" is a common enough pattern. So much that I find it hard to answer any objection because I can't see what the objection might be.
Look meaning "plan" or "expect" is a long-standing sense.
… and by midnight look to hear further from me. — "All's Well That Ends Well", Act III, Scene 6.
Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: — "The Comedy of Errors", Act V, Scene 1.
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
answered Sep 21 '16 at 13:33
Jon HannaJon Hanna
48.3k194178
48.3k194178
add a comment |
add a comment |
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I don't know about proper, but it is colloquial. I will say that in my neck of the woods at least, looking to is a "stronger" feeling than just thinking or having an interest of/in doing something.
– VampDuc
Sep 19 '16 at 16:04
It's definitely idiomatic in the US. Wouldn't be considered "formal", but would not draw the slightest raised eyebrow in ordinary conversation.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:35
@VampDuc -- And the construction "rolls off the tongue" more smoothly, since it uses the "normal" tense of the object verb vs using the -ing tense.
– Hot Licks
Sep 19 '16 at 16:39
"Look" is featured in many idioms: "look up" means research but "look up to" means respect, "look down on" means disrespect or disapprove, "look after" means care for, "look out" means beware, etc.
– Scott
Sep 20 '16 at 4:43