Will Be Missed vs. Will Be Miss – Which is Correct?
When you mean that someone or something will be remembered with sadness after leaving, the correct phrase is “will be missed.” “Will be miss” is grammatically incorrect because “will” must be followed by the base verb, while this expression requires the passive form “be missed” in standard written English usage.
Will Be Missed or Will Be Miss – Which Is Correct?
“Will be missed” is correct. It is the passive construction of the verb miss and means that people will feel the absence of someone or something. For example, “Your kindness will be missed” means that people will feel sad when your kindness is no longer present.
“Will be miss” is incorrect in standard English. The error usually occurs because “miss” is mistakenly used after “be” without changing it to the past participle missed. In this expression, the subject receives the action, so the passive form is required.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “by someone” test. If you can add “by someone” after the phrase, use will be missed: “She will be missed by her colleagues.” The word missed ends in -ed because it is the past participle needed in the passive structure will be + past participle.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| will be missed | Future passive verb phrase | Will be remembered or felt absent | Your leadership will be missed. |
| will be miss | Incorrect construction | Not a standard English phrase | Do not write: “He will be miss.” |
How to Use Will Be Missed
Will be missed is used when a person, object, place, experience, or quality will no longer be present and people will feel its absence. It commonly appears in farewell messages, retirement announcements, obituaries, sympathy notes, graduation speeches, workplace notices, and social media tributes.
The phrase is a future passive construction:
- Will: expresses the future.
- Be: forms the passive structure after the modal verb will.
- Missed: is the past participle of miss.
It can sound warm, respectful, formal, or emotional depending on the context. The phrase is especially common when addressing someone who is leaving a group or when remembering someone who has died.
Example 1: Your cheerful attitude will be missed by everyone in the office.
Example 2: The old library will be missed after it closes next month.
Example 3: She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Etymology of the Word Missed
Missed is the past participle and simple past form of miss. The verb miss comes from Old English missan, meaning to fail to hit, fail to reach, or fail to perceive. Over time, it developed the emotional meaning of feeling the absence of someone or something.
Related Concepts
Understanding verb forms and passive voice makes the difference between will be missed and will be miss easy to recognize.
- Future tense: The modal verb will refers to an action or state that occurs in the future. It is followed by a verb in its base form, as in will go or will be.
- Passive voice: In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action. The basic pattern is be + past participle, which produces be missed.
- Past participle: Missed is the past participle required after be in this passive phrase. The base form miss cannot replace it in standard English.
- Transitive verbs: The verb miss can take an object, such as “We will miss her.” That active sentence becomes “She will be missed” in the passive voice.
Examples from Media and Literature
The expression will be missed appears naturally in farewells, memorials, public announcements, and stories about separation.
- In a workplace retirement announcement, a company may write that a long-serving employee will be missed by colleagues and customers.
- In an obituary, a family may explain that a loved one will be deeply missed by relatives and friends.
- In a school graduation speech, a principal may say that the graduating class will be missed around campus.
- In a farewell scene in a novel or film, characters may say that a departing friend will be missed.
- In a news report about a closing local business, residents may say that the shop will be missed by the community.
Will Be Missed Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Will be remembered | Will remain in people’s thoughts or memories. |
| Will be mourned | Will be grieved, especially after a death or serious loss. |
| Will leave a void | Will create a strong sense of absence. |
| Will not be forgotten | Will continue to be remembered in the future. |
| Will be remembered fondly | Will be recalled with affection or happiness. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “will be missed” correct?
Yes. “Will be missed” is the correct standard English phrase for saying that someone or something will be remembered and felt absent in the future.
Question 2: Why is “will be miss” incorrect?
“Will be miss” incorrectly uses the base verb miss after be. The passive construction requires the past participle missed, creating the phrase will be missed.
Question 3: Is it correct to say “I will be missed”?
Yes. “I will be missed” means that other people will feel your absence. It is grammatically different from “I will miss you,” which means that you will feel someone else’s absence.
Question 4: What is the difference between “I will miss you” and “you will be missed”?
“I will miss you” uses the active voice and identifies the person who feels the absence. “You will be missed” uses the passive voice and emphasizes the person whose absence will be felt.
Question 5: Can “will be missed” describe an object or place?
Yes. You can say, “This restaurant will be missed,” or “The old park will be missed by local residents.” The phrase applies to anything whose absence creates an emotional or practical loss.
Conclusion
Will be missed is the correct phrase, while will be miss is a grammatical error. The correct expression uses the passive pattern will be + past participle: will be missed. Pro Tip: Use the complete form in professional emails, announcements, farewell messages, and tributes to maintain a polished and respectful impression.
