Ludwig is an AI-powered English writing assistant that helps you find example sentences, check grammar, and improve your writing using reliable sources from reputable publications.

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Ludwig offers both free and premium plans. The free plan provides basic access to our features, while the premium plan unlocks advanced tools, unlimited searches, and additional writing assistance features.

How does Ludwig help with English learning?

Ludwig provides contextual example sentences from reliable sources like The New York Times, BBC, and academic publications, helping you understand how words and phrases are used in real-world contexts. This improves both writing fluency and comprehension skills.

Ludwig is trusted by students, teachers, researchers, and professionals worldwide. It's used by top universities including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford, as well as professionals in tech companies like Adobe.

What makes Ludwig different from other writing tools?

Ludwig focuses on providing real example sentences from authoritative sources, not just grammar checking. This contextual approach helps users understand not just what's correct, but how language is actually used by native speakers and professional writers.

Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

I was about to write to you
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'I was about to write to you' is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when you want to express that you were about to do something but you did not manage to complete it. For example: "I was about to write to you yesterday but I got caught up in a meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

You are allowed to write about yourself.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"I was adamant about not writing.

News & Media

The New York Times - Arts

It's impossible to write about.

News & Media

The New Yorker

But it's wonderful to write about.

News & Media

The New Yorker

It's a scene to write about.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Be committed to writing about baseball.

Wiki

WikiHow

I'm tired of writing about this.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I was writing about everything.

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

I was writing a novel about colours.

News & Media

Independent

Writing songs is about being original!

Wiki

WikiHow

I am writing about deaths.

News & Media

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

Use "I was about to write to you" to express a near-future intention that was interrupted or did not occur.

⚠ Common error

Avoid using "I was about to write to you" when you actually did write. Use it only when the action was interrupted or prevented.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was about to write to you" functions as an expression of a past intention to communicate, specifically through writing. It sets the stage for explaining why the writing didn't occur or what superseded it. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

✓ Frequent in

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

⚠ Less common in

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was about to write to you" is a grammatically correct way to express a past intention to communicate via writing, though there is no sufficient data from Ludwig to provide a clear picture about use contexts and sources. It implies that the writing action was interrupted or superseded. Alternatives like "I nearly wrote to you" or "I had intended to write to you" can provide subtle differences in meaning. Understanding the correct usage prevents errors like using the phrase when the writing actually occurred.

Alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I nearly wrote to you

Focuses on the nearness of the action rather than the immediate intention.

I had intended to write to you

Emphasizes the intention behind the uncompleted action.

I was on the verge of sending you a letter

Uses "verge of" to highlight the imminence of writing.

I was just going to email you

Specifies the method of communication as email.

I almost sent you a message

Replaces "write" with "send" and broadens the term to "message".

I contemplated writing to you

Highlights the consideration of writing rather than the immediate action.

FAQs

How can I use "I was about to write to you" in a sentence?

You can use "I was about to write to you" to indicate that you were on the verge of contacting someone but something stopped you. For example: "I was about to write to you, but then I received your call."

What does "I was about to write to you" mean?

It means you were on the point of writing a letter or email but didn't actually do it. It implies an intention that was not fulfilled.

What's a more formal way to say "I was about to write to you"?

A more formal alternative is "I had intended to write to you", which you can find more about here: "I had intended to write to you".

What can I say instead of "I was about to write to you"?

You can use phrases like "I nearly wrote to you", or "I was just going to email you", depending on the context. Explore more alternatives here: "I nearly wrote to you" and "I was just going to email you".

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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I was about to write to youGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

I was about to write to you
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples