Quick answer: Yes, “looking forward to meeting you” is grammatically correct. The phrase requires the gerund form (“meeting”) because the word “to” functions as a preposition here, not part of an infinitive verb. Never write “looking forward to meet you.”
This specific phrasing trips up even native English speakers because it defies the standard pattern we learn early in school. Usually, “to” signals an infinitive verb, like “I want to go” or “She needs to sleep.” However, in this common closing line, the rules change. I have corrected thousands of cover letters and business emails where professionals accidentally wrote “to meet,” creating a jarring error that undermines their attention to detail. Understanding why the “-ing” form is mandatory will ensure your professional correspondence remains polished and precise.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Looking forward to meeting | Correct usage. Use when expressing anticipation for a future encounter. The “to” is a preposition requiring a noun or gerund. | “I am looking forward to meeting the team next Tuesday.” |
| Looking forward to meet | Incorrect usage. This is a grammatical error resulting from treating “to” as an infinitive marker. | “I look forward to meet you.” (Avoid this structure) |
| Look forward to meeting | Correct formal variant. Uses the simple present tense for a slightly more formal tone. | “We look forward to meeting you at the conference.” |
When to use “looking forward to meeting”
You should use this phrase whenever you want to express polite anticipation for a future event, specifically one involving an interaction with another person. It is the standard, safe choice for business emails, interview confirmations, and networking follow-ups. The key grammatical component here is the word “to.” In this context, “to” is a preposition, not part of an infinitive verb.
Prepositions must be followed by a noun or a noun equivalent. A gerund (a verb ending in “-ing”) acts as a noun. Therefore, “meeting” is the correct object of the preposition “to.” If you replaced “meeting” with a clear noun, the structure becomes obvious: “I look forward to the party.” You would never say “I look forward to hold the party.” Similarly, you must say “I look forward to meeting you.”
Here are three concrete examples of how this appears in real-world professional writing:
- Email Confirmation: “Thank you for scheduling the call. I am looking forward to meeting you via Zoom at 3 PM EST.”
- Cover Letter Closing: “My background in data analysis aligns well with your team’s goals, and I am looking forward to meeting you to discuss how I can contribute.”
- Networking Follow-up: “It was great connecting on LinkedIn. I am looking forward to meeting you for coffee next week to hear more about your startup.”
In each instance, the action of “meeting” is the thing being anticipated. The gerund form captures the activity as a concept or event, which fits perfectly after the preposition. Using the base verb “meet” breaks the syntactic chain, leaving the preposition dangling without a proper object. This is a subtle but critical distinction that editors look for immediately.
When to use “look forward to meeting”
While “looking forward” is perfectly acceptable and widely used, some style guides and traditionalists prefer the simple present tense: “look forward.” This variation is often considered slightly more formal and direct. It removes the progressive aspect (“-ing”) of the auxiliary verb “be,” resulting in a cleaner, more static statement of fact.
The grammatical rule regarding the second verb remains identical. Whether you say “I am looking” or “I look,” the word “to” still functions as a preposition. Consequently, you must still use the gerund “meeting.” You cannot switch to “meet” just because you changed the first verb. The error “I look forward to meet you” is just as incorrect as “I am looking forward to meet you.”
Consider these scenarios where the simple present tense might be preferred:
- Formal Business Correspondence: “We look forward to meeting you at the annual shareholder meeting.” This sounds decisive and professional.
- Official Invitations: “The committee looks forward to meeting all applicants during the interview phase.” This maintains a neutral, institutional tone.
- Concise Sign-offs: “Thanks again for your time. I look forward to meeting you soon.” This is punchy and efficient, ideal for short emails.
The choice between “looking” and “look” is largely stylistic. “Looking forward” feels warmer and more immediate, suggesting an ongoing state of anticipation. “Look forward” feels more like a standard protocol or a fixed stance. Both are correct, provided you keep the “-ing” on the second verb. As an editor, I often suggest “look forward” for very formal legal or corporate documents, while “looking forward” works better for collaborative, team-oriented communication.
How to remember the difference
The most effective way to remember this rule is to substitute the verb with a simple noun. This trick bypasses the confusion about infinitives entirely. Try replacing “meeting you” with “the weekend.”
You would naturally say, “I am looking forward to the weekend.” You would never say, “I am looking forward to have the weekend.”
Since “the weekend” is a noun, and “meeting” acts as a noun (gerund), they follow the same rule. If you can put “the” in front of it, you need the “-ing” form. This mental substitution works every time. Another helpful mnemonic is to think of the phrase “forward to” as a single unit that points toward a destination. That destination must be a thing (a noun), not an action in its base form.
Additionally, consider the directionality implied by the word “forward.” the concept of Forward often relates to movement toward a future point in time or space. When you look forward, you are directing your gaze or anticipation toward a specific event. That event is a “thing” that exists in your future schedule. Treating it as a noun reinforces the need for the gerund. This conceptual link helps solidify why the verb must change its form to become a noun-like entity.
Common mistakes and exceptions
The most frequent mistake is writing “looking forward to meet you.” This error stems from overgeneralizing the infinitive rule. Students learn that “to” + verb equals infinitive (e.g., “to run,” “to eat”). They apply this blindly to “look forward to,” not realizing that “to” has a different grammatical job here. I see this error constantly in drafts from non-native speakers and even native speakers who are typing quickly.
Another common issue is inconsistency in tone. While “looking forward to meeting you” is standard, using it in extremely casual texts can feel stiff. In a text message to a friend, you might simply say, “Can’t wait to see you!” or “Excited to meet you!” Note that “excited to meet” uses the infinitive correctly because “excited” is an adjective, not part of the “look forward” phrasal verb structure. Do not mix these structures. “I am excited to meeting you” is incorrect.
There are no regional exceptions between US and UK English for this specific rule. Both varieties require the gerund. However, the spelling of other words in your sentence might vary. For instance, if you are discussing the act of observing or searching, the word Looking has various cultural and artistic interpretations, but grammatically, it remains consistent. The core structure “look forward to + gerund” is universal across standard English dialects.
One edge case involves passive voice or complex sentences. For example: “He is looked forward to being promoted.” This is awkward and rarely used. Instead, rephrase to: “Everyone looks forward to his promotion.” Keeping the object simple avoids clunky grammar. Always aim for clarity. If the sentence feels heavy, break it down. “I am looking forward to our meeting” is often smoother than “I am looking forward to meeting with you,” though both are correct. The first turns the entire interaction into a single noun event (“our meeting”), which is elegant and concise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “looking forward to meet you” ever correct? No, it is never grammatically correct. The preposition “to” in this phrase always requires a noun or gerund, so “meeting” is the only valid option.
Can I use “seeing” instead of “meeting”? Yes, “looking forward to seeing you” is perfectly correct and often used for people you have already met. “Meeting” implies a first-time introduction, while “seeing” implies a reunion.
Why do some people write “to meet” in emails? They are making a grammatical error by confusing the preposition “to” with the infinitive marker. It is a common mistake, but it is still incorrect in standard English.
Is “I look forward to hearing from you” correct? Yes, this is correct. Just like “meeting,” “hearing” is a gerund acting as the object of the preposition “to.” It is a standard formal closing in business correspondence.
Samantha Jones graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Oxford University and has been involved in language education for over 15 years. Her expertise lies in comparative language analysis, focusing particularly on the differences and similarities in spelling across various English dialects. Samantha’s passion for this niche developed from her love of storytelling and desire to preserve the subtle differences that make English unique around the globe. On SpellRightDaily, she crafts detailed articles that compare common spelling errors and offer practical advice for writers and editors looking to polish their work. Samantha’s content is known for its clarity and depth, helping readers decode complex spelling issues and improve their writing skills. She also enjoys delving into the psychology of language learning, and how cognitive factors influence the retention of correct spelling patterns. Her engaging writing encourages a deeper appreciation of the language’s rich diversity.