Is “I Am Very Much Looking Forward” Correct?
“I am very much looking forward” is correct English, but it usually needs more information after it. In most sentences, you should say what you are looking forward to, such as “I am very much looking forward to meeting you” or “I am very much looking forward to the conference.”
The phrase is polite, natural, and especially common in formal English and professional communication. This grammar explanation covers the phrase structure, the role of “very much,” why “to” is followed by a gerund in many examples, and how to choose the right wording for a business email or everyday message.
The Short Answer: Is the Phrase Correct?
Yes, “I am very much looking forward” is grammatically correct. It contains the subject “I,” the verb phrase “am looking forward,” and the adverbial expression “very much,” which strengthens the speaker’s sense of anticipation.
However, the expression often sounds unfinished if it ends after “forward.” The phrasal verb “look forward to” normally points toward a future event, person, activity, or object, so readers expect the sentence to continue.
These examples are complete and natural:
- I am very much looking forward to meeting you.
- I am very much looking forward to your presentation.
- I am very much looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
- I am very much looking forward to the opportunity.
The version without a following complement can still work if the context already makes the object clear. For example, if someone asks, “Are you excited about the trip?” you could answer, “Yes, I am very much looking forward to it.” In that reply, “it” supplies the missing reference.
For a formal letter or business email, do not usually end with “I am very much looking forward.” Add the event or action that creates the anticipation. The result will be clearer, more complete, and more useful to the reader.
What “Looking Forward To” Means
“Look forward to” means to feel pleased or excited about something expected in the future. It is not a literal reference to looking in a forward direction. In modern English, it functions as a fixed phrasal verb with the meaning “anticipate with pleasure.”
The expression can introduce a thing, an event, a person, or an action. It commonly appears in invitations, replies, arrangements, customer service messages, workplace communication, and personal correspondence.
| Example | What follows “to” | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I look forward to the meeting. | Noun phrase | I anticipate the meeting positively. |
| I am looking forward to seeing you. | Gerund phrase | I anticipate seeing you positively. |
| She looks forward to your reply. | Possessive noun phrase | She hopes to receive your reply. |
| We are looking forward to it. | Pronoun | We anticipate the previously mentioned event. |
The phrase can appear in several verb forms. “I look forward to” uses the simple present, “I am looking forward to” uses the present continuous, and “I have been looking forward to” uses the present perfect continuous.
In a professional setting, “I look forward to” is often slightly more restrained and conventional. “I am looking forward to” sounds warmer and more immediate, while “I have been looking forward to” emphasizes that the anticipation began earlier.
Common meanings in context
If you write, “I am very much looking forward to our discussion,” you communicate positive anticipation about a future conversation. The sentence is friendly but still appropriate for a professional relationship.
If you write, “I am very much looking forward to working with you team,” you express enthusiasm about a future collaboration. The phrase does not necessarily imply excitement in an emotional or informal sense; it can simply signal goodwill and readiness.
The expression is also useful when closing a message. “I look forward to hearing from you” is a conventional request for a reply, while “I am looking forward to hearing from you” can sound more personal and expectant.
Why “To” Is Followed by a Gerund
One of the most common mistakes involves the word “to.” In “look forward to,” “to” is a preposition, not the infinitive marker used in a phrase such as “to meet.” Because it is a preposition, it is normally followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. In “I am looking forward to meeting you,” the word “meeting” names the anticipated activity. It does not function as part of an infinitive.
Correct examples include:
- I am looking forward to meeting the new director.
- We are very much looking forward to discussing the proposal.
- She looks forward to receiving your application.
- They are looking forward to moving into the new office.
The common incorrect form is “I am looking forward to meet you.” That construction treats “to” as though it introduced an infinitive, but the fixed expression “look forward to” requires a different structure.
Compare the following pairs:
| Correct structure | Incorrect or different structure |
|---|---|
| I look forward to meeting you. | I look forward to meet you. |
| She is looking forward to hearing from us. | She is looking forward to hear from us. |
| We look forward to reviewing the contract. | We look forward to review the contract. |
There are cases where “to” is followed by an infinitive, such as “I hope to meet you.” That is a different phrase structure. “Hope to meet” and “look forward to meeting” express related ideas, but their grammar is not interchangeable.
A useful substitution test
To check the grammar, replace the activity with a noun. “I am looking forward to the meeting” is clearly correct. Since “meeting” can act as a noun in that sentence, “I am looking forward to meeting you” follows the same pattern.
You can also use a pronoun: “I am looking forward to it.” The fact that “it” works after “to” confirms that this “to” behaves as a preposition in the expression.
What “Very Much” Adds to the Sentence
“Very much” is an adverbial expression that intensifies the speaker’s anticipation. It makes “I am looking forward to” more emphatic without changing the basic meaning of the phrase.
Compare these sentences:
- I am looking forward to the event.
- I am very much looking forward to the event.
- I am really looking forward to the event.
- I am especially looking forward to the event.
The first is neutral. The second is more formal and slightly more emphatic. The third is conversational, while the fourth focuses attention on one particular event among several possibilities.
“Very much” is not required for grammatical correctness. You can remove it and still have a complete sentence. Its purpose is emphasis, politeness, or warmth rather than basic grammatical structure.
Adverb placement
The position of “very much” in “I am very much looking forward to” is natural, especially in formal English. It appears between the auxiliary verb “am” and the present participle “looking.”
You may also encounter “I am looking forward very much to the conference,” but that placement is less natural for many speakers. “I am very much looking forward to the conference” is smoother and more familiar.
“Very much” can also appear at the end in some contexts, particularly with a different verb structure. For example, “I appreciate your help very much” is grammatical, but “I am looking forward to the meeting very much” sounds heavier than the standard placement.
For a business email, the safest pattern is simple:
I am very much looking forward to + noun or gerund.
Examples include “I am very much looking forward to your visit,” “I am very much looking forward to hearing your ideas,” and “I am very much looking forward to discussing the next stage.”
“I Look Forward To” Compared with “I Am Looking Forward To”
Both “I look forward to” and “I am looking forward to” are correct. The choice depends on tone, timing, and the relationship between the writer and reader.
| Expression | Typical tone | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I look forward to | Formal, conventional, concise | I look forward to your response. |
| I am looking forward to | Warm, immediate, personal | I am looking forward to meeting you. |
| I am very much looking forward to | Warm and strongly positive | I am very much looking forward to the conference. |
| I have been looking forward to | Anticipation began earlier | I have been looking forward to this conversation. |
In a formal business email, “I look forward to hearing from you” is a standard closing sentence. It is polite and direct, although it can sound routine if used repeatedly in every message.
“I am looking forward to hearing from you” has a more personal quality. It may be suitable after an interview, before a scheduled meeting, or in a message where the writer wants to show genuine enthusiasm.
“I am very much looking forward to” is strongest of the three. Use it when the added emphasis is appropriate, such as confirming enthusiasm about a partnership, event, visit, or important discussion.
Examples in business emails
After arranging an interview, you might write, “I am very much looking forward to speaking with you on Thursday.” The sentence confirms the appointment while maintaining a positive professional tone.
After receiving an invitation, you could say, “Thank you for including me. I am very much looking forward to attending.” Here, the gerund “attending” refers to the event already mentioned.
After submitting a proposal, “I look forward to discussing the proposal with your team” is more measured. It expresses willingness without sounding overly enthusiastic.
A customer service representative might write, “We are looking forward to helping you get started.” This version is friendly and suitable for a welcome message, although “We look forward to assisting you” is more formal.
Formal English and Professional Communication
“I am very much looking forward to” is acceptable in formal English, but formality does not automatically make every sentence better. The phrase should match the relationship, purpose, and level of enthusiasm that the situation calls for.
In a cover letter, “I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience could support your team” is polished but somewhat elaborate. A shorter alternative is “I look forward to discussing how my experience could support your team.”
In a business email, the longer phrase can be useful when you have a real reason to express enthusiasm. For instance, after months of planning, “We are very much looking forward to launching the new service with your organization” sounds appropriate.
In an employee announcement, the expression can create warmth:
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming our new colleagues next month.”
In a legal document or tightly controlled policy, a more neutral phrase may be preferable. Formal writing often values precision over emotional emphasis, so “The parties anticipate the meeting” or “The committee will review the matter at its next session” may fit better.
Contexts where the phrase works well
- A job interview confirmation: “I am very much looking forward to speaking with the panel.”
- A conference invitation: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming you.”
- A partnership email: “We are looking forward to working with your organization.”
- A client update: “I look forward to reviewing the revised materials.”
- A personal note: “I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone.”
Professional communication benefits from a clear subject and a specific object. “I am very much looking forward to it” is grammatical, but “it” may be vague if the previous message mentioned several events or documents.
Specificity also prevents an unintended tone. “I am very much looking forward to your decision” may sound eager, while “I look forward to receiving your decision” sounds more neutral and procedural.
Common Mistakes and Better Corrections
The most frequent error is using an infinitive after “to.” Write “I am looking forward to meeting you,” not “I am looking forward to meet you.” The same rule applies to “hearing,” “discussing,” “receiving,” “joining,” and other gerunds.
Another mistake is omitting the object entirely in a formal message. “I am very much looking forward” may be understood, but it leaves the reader waiting for the rest of the thought.
| Less effective version | Better version | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| I look forward to meet you. | I look forward to meeting you. | Use a gerund after the preposition “to.” |
| I am very much looking forward. | I am very much looking forward to the meeting. | Add the anticipated event. |
| I am looking forward for your reply. | I am looking forward to your reply. | The fixed phrase uses “to,” not “for.” |
| I look forward hearing from you. | I look forward to hearing from you. | The preposition cannot be omitted. |
| I am looking forward to hear your views. | I am looking forward to hearing your views. | Use the gerund form. |
Some writers confuse “look forward to” with “hope to.” Both can refer to the future, but their structures differ. “I hope to see you” uses an infinitive, while “I look forward to seeing you” uses a gerund.
Another issue is excessive repetition. If every paragraph of a letter ends with “I look forward to hearing from you,” the phrase can feel automatic. Replace it with a specific next step when possible, such as “Please send the revised schedule by Friday” or “I will contact you after the committee meets.”
Pronunciation and contractions
In speech, “I am looking forward to” is often contracted to “I’m looking forward to.” The contraction is natural in conversation and acceptable in many emails, but the uncontracted form may appear more formal in a letter or official document.
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting you” is friendly and professional in many workplace settings. “I am very much looking forward to meeting you” gives the sentence a more formal, deliberate tone.
Neither version changes the underlying grammar. The choice is primarily one of register and presentation.
Formal Alternatives and More Direct Wording
You do not always need to use “I am very much looking forward to.” Sometimes a shorter or more specific sentence communicates the same idea more effectively.
- I look forward to meeting you.
- I am pleased to anticipate the opportunity to work together.
- I am excited about the upcoming discussion.
- I welcome the opportunity to review your proposal.
- I hope to speak with you soon.
- We are pleased to confirm our participation.
- We anticipate a productive meeting.
- We are eager to begin the next phase.
“I look forward to” is usually the best formal alternative because it is concise and widely accepted. “I am pleased to” can sound more official, while “I am excited about” is more conversational and emotionally direct.
Choose “I hope to” if the event is possible but not fully confirmed. For example, “I hope to meet you at the conference” suggests an intention, while “I am looking forward to meeting you at the conference” implies that the meeting is expected or arranged.
Use “I welcome the opportunity” when you want to emphasize willingness rather than anticipation. In a proposal or application, “I welcome the opportunity to discuss this role” can sound confident without becoming overly enthusiastic.
Avoid replacing every instance with “I anticipate.” Although grammatical, “anticipate” can sound more detached or technical. It is useful in reports and formal statements, but “look forward to” is often warmer in correspondence.
How to Choose the Best Version
Start by identifying what you are talking about. If the anticipated item is a noun, use “to” followed by the noun: “I am looking forward to the workshop.” If the anticipated action is a verb, change that verb to its gerund form: “I am looking forward to attending the workshop.”
Next, decide how much emphasis you need. “I look forward to” is restrained, “I am looking forward to” is warmer, and “I am very much looking forward to” is more emphatic.
Then consider the audience. A close colleague may appreciate “I’m really looking forward to it,” while a formal letter to a government office may call for “I look forward to your response.”
Use this practical checklist before sending your message:
- Have you identified the event, object, person, or action being anticipated?
- Did you use “to” rather than “for” after “look forward”?
- If a verb follows “to,” did you use the gerund form?
- Does “very much” match the level of enthusiasm you intend?
- Would a shorter alternative sound clearer in this context?
- Is the tone suitable for the recipient and the type of document?
Read the sentence aloud. If it sounds as though the thought stops after “forward,” add the missing object or activity.
Reference Guidance and Grammar Resources
Reliable dictionaries treat “look forward to” as an established expression meaning to anticipate something with pleasure. For a reference check, the Cambridge Dictionary entry for “look forward to” provides definitions, example sentences, and pronunciation information.
Other respected references, including the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster, can also help confirm meaning, usage, and grammatical patterns. Dictionary entries are especially useful when you are unsure whether a word or phrase is being used literally, idiomatically, or as part of a fixed expression.
A style guide may recommend one level of formality over another, but it will not normally change the basic grammar. The key rule remains stable: in “look forward to,” the word “to” is a preposition, and a following action is generally expressed with a gerund.
For academic writing, avoid unnecessary warmth if the surrounding prose is analytical. “The researchers anticipate further investigation” may fit a scholarly discussion better than “The researchers are very much looking forward to further investigation.”
For professional writing, clarity is usually more important than sounding impressive. A precise sentence such as “I look forward to reviewing the contract on Monday” is stronger than a vague sentence such as “I am very much looking forward to what comes next.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “I am very much looking forward” correct?
Yes. It is grammatically correct, but it usually needs a complement, such as “to meeting you,” “to the conference,” or “to hearing your response.” Without that information, the sentence may sound incomplete.
Is “I am very much looking forward to meeting you” formal?
Yes. It is polite and suitable for many professional emails, interview confirmations, letters, and formal introductions. “I look forward to meeting you” is slightly more restrained.
Why is “to meet” incorrect after “looking forward to”?
In this expression, “to” is a preposition rather than an infinitive marker. A preposition is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund, so the correct form is “looking forward to meeting you.”
Can I say “I look forward to hearing from you”?
Yes. “I look forward to hearing from you” is one of the most common formal closing sentences in business email and professional correspondence. It politely indicates that you expect or welcome a reply.
What is a good alternative to “I am very much looking forward to”?
Use “I look forward to” for a concise formal tone, “I am excited about” for a more conversational tone, or “I welcome the opportunity to” when you want to emphasize willingness rather than anticipation.
Final Takeaway
The phrase “I am very much looking forward” is correct English, but it is usually best completed with a noun, pronoun, or gerund phrase. Write “I am very much looking forward to the meeting” or “I am very much looking forward to discussing the proposal,” not “I am very much looking forward to discuss the proposal.”
For a professional message, choose between “I look forward to,” “I am looking forward to,” and “I am very much looking forward to” according to the tone you need. If you keep the preposition structure clear and make the anticipated event specific, your sentence will sound natural, polished, and appropriate for formal English.
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