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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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Looking forward to having you

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking forward to having you" is correct and usable in written English
You can use this phrase to express anticipation when inviting someone to an event or gathering. For example, "We are looking forward to having you at our housewarming party!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

We're looking forward to having you there!" You might find that these two invited relatives have actually been clueless; there's the possibility that they don't know it is inappropriate to add a guest to their invitation.

News & Media

The New York Times

I'm looking forward to having you in the neighborhood as well.

News & Media

TechCrunch

We're really looking forward to having you play at Marquee in March.

News & Media

Huffington Post

We are looking forward to having you at Marquee this Friday.

News & Media

Huffington Post

We're looking forward to having you both over soon, so we can all enjoy a drink together.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"We all look forward to having you join our family," she wrote.

News & Media

The New York Times

We look forward to having you there to join in the experience and to help us raise money for Cancer Research UK.

News & Media

Independent

Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann at a news conference on Wednesday promised new, more restrained tactics would rule the day and said, "I look forward to having you all out there".

News & Media

The New York Times

"We look forward to having you back in 18 months when we finish the building," Mr. Ross told several hundred people who gathered in the shell of the Allen Room, one of three performance spaces for Jazz at Lincoln Center, 80 feet above ground.

News & Media

The New York Times

We look forward to having you join us!

News & Media

TechCrunch

"I think he was probably semi-delirious from drugs but it was one of those kind of moments that you always remember," says Bunting. "We were able to say to him immediately on the call, 'the company is waiting for you, you should completely relax, everyone knows you are going to make a recovery, and we look forward to having you back'".

News & Media

TechCrunch
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Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

Consider the formality of your audience. While generally acceptable, "looking forward to having you" might be slightly less formal than "we anticipate your presence" in some contexts.

⚠ Common error

Ensure that the word following "to" is a gerund (verb in -ing form) or a noun. Incorrect: "looking forward to have you"; Correct: "looking forward to having you" or "looking forward to your visit".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking forward to having you" functions as an expression of anticipation and welcome. It indicates that the speaker is eagerly awaiting the presence or participation of the person being addressed. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

⚠ Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looking forward to having you" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey positive anticipation of someone's presence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct for use. Its formality can vary based on context, but it is typically considered neutral and appropriate for most situations. To improve usage, specifying the event or context adds clarity. While many alternatives exist, such as "anticipating your participation", the core meaning of eager expectation remains consistent.

FAQs

How to use "looking forward to having you" in a sentence?

Use "looking forward to having you" to express anticipation of someone's presence at an event or in a specific context. For example, "We are looking forward to having you at the conference."

What can I say instead of "looking forward to having you"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipating your participation", "excited to welcome you", or "eagerly awaiting your presence" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "looking forward to have you" or "looking forward to having you"?

"Looking forward to having you" is correct. The phrase requires a gerund (verb ending in -ing) after the preposition "to". The incorrect form is "looking forward to have you".

What's the difference between "looking forward to having you" and "looking forward to meeting you"?

"Looking forward to having you" implies anticipation of someone's presence at an event or in a group, while "looking forward to meeting you" expresses anticipation of an initial encounter with someone. The latter is used when you haven't met the person before.

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: