Are Forthcoming vs. Will Be Forthcoming – Which is Correct?
Both phrases are correct. “Are forthcoming” describes information that is expected or available now, while “will be forthcoming” places its availability in the future. Choose the first for a present status and the second for a future promise, forecast, or announcement. Both sound professional, but context determines the best choice.
Are Forthcoming or Will Be Forthcoming – Which Is Correct?
“Are forthcoming” and “will be forthcoming” are both grammatically correct. The difference is primarily one of time and certainty.
Are forthcoming uses the present tense. It suggests that something is expected soon, is already being prepared, or is currently available in an anticipated way. For example, “Further details are forthcoming” means that additional details are expected soon.
Will be forthcoming uses the future tense. It emphasizes that something is expected to become available later. For example, “Further details will be forthcoming after the investigation” places the release of those details in the future.
Forthcoming can also mean open, candid, or willing to provide information. In that sense, “The witness was forthcoming” means that the witness was cooperative and honest. However, in the phrases “are forthcoming” and “will be forthcoming,” the word most commonly refers to information, documents, explanations, or events that are expected soon.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use a simple timeline test. If the information is expected in the present situation or is already on its way, use are forthcoming. If you are making a prediction about a later point, use will be forthcoming.
Another useful test is to replace the phrase with a time expression. If “soon” or “now” fits, choose are forthcoming. If “later” or “in the future” fits, choose will be forthcoming.
| Word or Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| are forthcoming | Present-tense verb phrase with adjective | Are expected or becoming available soon | The final results are forthcoming. |
| will be forthcoming | Future-tense verb phrase with adjective | Are expected to become available later | The records will be forthcoming next month. |
How to Use Are Forthcoming
Use are forthcoming when the subject is plural and the information, materials, or developments are expected soon or are already in the process of being supplied. The phrase is common in formal, professional, legal, academic, and journalistic writing.
Because forthcoming often implies that something should arrive shortly, the phrase can sound more polished and indirect than “are coming” or “will be available soon.” It is especially useful when discussing details, statements, reports, results, documents, or announcements.
Example 1: Additional instructions are forthcoming from the admissions office.
Example 2: The researchers stated that more findings are forthcoming.
Example 3: Answers to the committee’s questions are forthcoming in the revised report.
What Are the Different Forms of Are Forthcoming?
Are forthcoming is the present-tense form used with plural subjects and with the pronoun you. Singular subjects take is forthcoming, as in “The report is forthcoming.” A future version is will be forthcoming, while a past version may be expressed with was forthcoming or were forthcoming.
The adjective forthcoming normally remains unchanged. Standard English does not generally use forms such as forthcominger or forthcomingest. To express comparison, use phrases such as more forthcoming and most forthcoming when referring to openness or cooperation.
Etymology of the Word Forthcoming
Forthcoming combines forth, meaning “forward” or “out,” with coming. It originally referred to something that was coming forward or approaching. Over time, it developed its modern meanings: expected to appear soon and willing to provide information openly.
How to Use Will Be Forthcoming
Use will be forthcoming when you want to indicate that information or an event is expected at a later time. The auxiliary verb will clearly marks the future, making this phrase useful for promises, schedules, forecasts, official statements, and conditional plans.
This phrase can sound more cautious than a direct promise. It indicates an expectation of future availability without necessarily specifying exactly when the information will arrive. In formal writing, it may be preferable to “will come later” or “will be released later.”
Example 1: A detailed explanation will be forthcoming after the audit is complete.
Example 2: The company announced that further guidance will be forthcoming next quarter.
Example 3: If the proposal is approved, additional funding will be forthcoming.
What Are the Different Forms of Will Be Forthcoming?
Will be forthcoming is a future-tense verb phrase. It can be used with singular or plural subjects because will does not change according to number: “The answer will be forthcoming” and “The answers will be forthcoming” are both correct.
Related forms include is forthcoming for a singular present subject, are forthcoming for a plural present subject, was forthcoming or were forthcoming for the past, and has been forthcoming or have been forthcoming for the present perfect.
Etymology of the Word Forthcoming
Forthcoming comes from the combination of the adverb forth and the present participle coming. The literal idea is of something coming forward. That meaning led to its modern use for anticipated information and for people who openly offer information.
Related Concepts
Understanding tense, subject-verb agreement, and adjective meaning makes the distinction between these phrases much easier.
- Present tense: The present tense describes a current state or situation. In “The documents are forthcoming,” are presents the documents as currently expected or in progress.
- Future tense: The future construction will be refers to a later condition or event. “The documents will be forthcoming” focuses on their expected future availability.
- Subject-verb agreement: Use is with a singular subject and are with a plural subject. For example, “The statement is forthcoming,” but “The statements are forthcoming.”
- Adjective meaning: Forthcoming may describe something expected soon or a person who is open and communicative. Context determines which meaning applies.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of contexts in which these phrases commonly appear in news reporting, public statements, business writing, and literary narration:
- News reporting: “Officials said that more information will be forthcoming once the investigation is complete.”
- Business communication: “The company’s financial results are forthcoming after the market closes.”
- Academic writing: “A fuller analysis of the survey data will be forthcoming in a subsequent paper.”
- Legal writing: “The requested records are forthcoming under the terms of the agreement.”
- Literary dialogue: “She was forthcoming about her reasons for leaving,” where forthcoming means honest and willing to explain.
Are Forthcoming Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Expected | Regarded as likely to happen or appear |
| Imminent | About to happen very soon |
| Upcoming | Scheduled or likely to happen in the near future |
| Approaching | Drawing nearer in time |
| Pending | Awaiting completion, approval, or release |
Will Be Forthcoming Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Will be available | Will be ready for use or access later |
| Will be released | Will be officially issued or made public |
| Will be provided | Will be supplied or given in the future |
| Will be announced | Will be communicated publicly later |
| Is expected | Is predicted or believed likely to happen |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “are forthcoming” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Are forthcoming” is correct when the subject is plural, such as “The details are forthcoming.” It presents the information as expected soon or currently being prepared.
Question 2: Is “will be forthcoming” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Will be forthcoming” is a correct future-tense phrase. It emphasizes that information, documents, or developments are expected to become available later.
Question 3: What is the difference between “are forthcoming” and “will be forthcoming”?
“Are forthcoming” describes a present expectation or status, whereas “will be forthcoming” makes a future prediction or promise. The choice depends on whether the focus is on now or later.
Conclusion
Both are forthcoming and will be forthcoming are correct. Use are forthcoming for information that is currently expected or already on its way, and use will be forthcoming for information that is expected at a later time. Pro Tip: Choosing the tense that precisely matches your timeline makes professional writing clearer and more credible.
