Look Forward or Looking Forward: Which Is Correct?

Look forward and looking forward are both correct, but they are used in different grammatical structures. “I look forward to meeting you” uses the simple present, while “I am looking forward to meeting you” uses the present continuous.

The most important rule is that look forward to is followed by a noun, pronoun, or -ing form of a verb when a verb comes next.

For example:

I look forward to hearing from you. ✅

I am looking forward to meeting you. ✅

Not:

I look forward to hear from you. ❌

Whether you are writing a professional email, a formal letter, or a casual message, knowing when to use look forward and looking forward can help you sound natural and grammatically correct.

Look Forward or Looking Forward: Quick Answer

Both are correct. The choice depends on the grammatical structure and the tone you want.

Expression	Typical use	Example
look forward to	Simple present; often formal or professional	I look forward to hearing from you.
am looking forward to	Present continuous; often warmer	I am looking forward to hearing from you.
is looking forward to	Present continuous with he/she/it	She is looking forward to the trip.
are looking forward to	Present continuous with you/we/they	We are looking forward to meeting you.
looking forward to	Shortened expression, common in emails	Looking forward to hearing from you.

So, if you are asking “Should I say look forward or looking forward?”, there is no single correct answer. You need to look at the rest of the sentence.

What Is the Difference Between Look Forward and Looking Forward?

The main difference is grammatical.

Look forward is the base form of the verb phrase. It can be used in the simple present with subjects such as I and we.

I look forward to meeting you.

We look forward to your response.

Looking forward is the -ing form. It normally appears with a form of the verb be, such as am, is, or are.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

She is looking forward to the event.

They are looking forward to their vacation.

Look Forward To

Use look forward to when the sentence requires the simple present or another structure that uses the base form.

Examples:

I look forward to hearing from you.

We look forward to working with you.

I look forward to your response.

This form is particularly common in professional and formal communication.

Looking Forward To

Use looking forward to when it follows a form of be.

Examples:

I am looking forward to the weekend.

She is looking forward to meeting the team.

We are looking forward to seeing you.

The meaning is very similar to look forward to, but the grammar and sometimes the tone are slightly different.

Look Forward To or Looking Forward To in a Sentence

Both expressions describe positive anticipation of something that is expected to happen.

The difference is mainly in the verb form.

I Look Forward To

I look forward to uses the simple present.

I look forward to meeting you next week.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I look forward to discussing the project.

This construction is especially common in professional correspondence because it sounds concise, polite, and formal.

I Am Looking Forward To

I am looking forward to uses the present continuous.

I am looking forward to meeting you next week.

I am looking forward to the conference.

I am looking forward to working with your team.

This can sound slightly more personal or conversational because it emphasizes your current feeling of anticipation.

Looking Forward To

Looking forward to is often used as a shortened form in emails and messages.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Looking forward to working together.

The implied subject is usually I.

In a highly formal context, a complete sentence may be preferable:

I look forward to hearing from you.

In ordinary professional emails, however, Looking forward to hearing from you is extremely common.

Why Is It “Look Forward to Meeting” and Not “Look Forward to Meet”?

This is one of the most important grammar rules associated with this expression.

When a verb comes after look forward to, use the -ing form.

Correct:

I look forward to meeting you.

Incorrect:

I look forward to meet you.

The same pattern applies to other verbs:

We look forward to working with you. ✅

She looks forward to hearing from you. ✅

I am looking forward to seeing you. ✅

The reason is that to in look forward to is a preposition. When a verb follows a preposition, it normally takes the -ing form.

Look Forward To + Noun

A noun can come after to:

I look forward to the meeting.

She looks forward to the weekend.

We look forward to your response.

Look Forward To + -ing Verb

When a verb comes after to, use the -ing form:

I look forward to meeting you.

We look forward to hearing from you.

She looks forward to starting her new job.

A useful pattern to remember is:

look forward to + noun

or

look forward to + -ing verb

Look Forward To in Formal and Professional Emails

The expression look forward to is particularly useful in professional communication.

It can be used at the end of an email, when responding to an invitation, when discussing a future meeting, or when expressing interest in future communication.

Formal Email

For a formal email, this is a standard choice:

I look forward to hearing from you.

It is concise, polite, and professional.

Another example is:

I look forward to discussing this matter with you.

Professional but Warm

If you want your email to sound professional while showing a little more warmth, use:

I am looking forward to speaking with you next week.

Or:

I am looking forward to working with you.

These sentences can sound more personal than the conventional I look forward to… construction.

Informal Message

For a casual message, you can use the contraction I’m:

I’m looking forward to seeing you!

I’m looking forward to the weekend!

This is natural in conversations, text messages, and informal emails.

Shortened Email Closing

You may also see:

Looking forward to hearing from you.

This is a shortened expression with the subject I omitted.

It is common in professional and semi-formal emails, although a complete sentence can be a better choice when you want a particularly formal tone.

Is “I Look Forward To” More Formal Than “I Am Looking Forward To”?

Both are correct, but they can create slightly different impressions.

I look forward to is a conventional expression in formal and professional writing.

I look forward to your response.

I am looking forward to can sound more conversational and personal.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

This does not mean that I am looking forward to is informal or inappropriate for business writing. It is perfectly acceptable in professional communication.

The best choice depends on the tone of the message.

Situation	Good choice
Formal business email	I look forward to hearing from you.
Professional but friendly	I am looking forward to speaking with you.
Casual email	I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Short email closing	Looking forward to hearing from you.

Look Forward To vs. Wait For

Look forward to and wait for are not interchangeable.

Look forward to expresses positive anticipation.

I am looking forward to the vacation.

This suggests that the person is happy or excited about the upcoming vacation.

Wait for simply means to remain until something happens.

I am waiting for the bus.

Someone can wait for something without feeling excited about it.

Compare:

We are looking forward to the concert.

This expresses anticipation.

We are waiting for the concert to begin.

This describes waiting and does not necessarily express excitement.

Common Mistakes With Look Forward To

Several grammar mistakes commonly appear with this expression.

“Look Forward For” Instead of “Look Forward To”

The standard expression is look forward to, not look forward for.

Incorrect:

I look forward for your reply.

Correct:

I look forward to your reply.

“Look Forward to Meet” Instead of “Look Forward to Meeting”

When a verb follows look forward to, use the -ing form.

Incorrect:

I look forward to meet you.

Correct:

I look forward to meeting you.

“Looking Forward to Meet” Instead of “Looking Forward to Meeting”

The same rule applies after looking forward to.

Incorrect:

I am looking forward to meet you.

Correct:

I am looking forward to meeting you.

“I Looking Forward To”

In a complete sentence, looking normally needs a form of be.

Incorrect:

I looking forward to the meeting.

Correct:

I am looking forward to the meeting.

However, the shortened expression Looking forward to hearing from you is commonly used in correspondence.

Look, Looks, Looked, and Looking Forward

The expression changes according to the subject and tense.

Form	Example
I look forward to	I look forward to meeting you.
You look forward to	You look forward to the event.
He/She looks forward to	She looks forward to the conference.
We look forward to	We look forward to working with you.
They look forward to	They look forward to the holidays.
I am looking forward to	I am looking forward to the meeting.
He is looking forward to	He is looking forward to the trip.
They are looking forward to	They are looking forward to seeing you.
I looked forward to	I looked forward to the event.
We will look forward to	We will look forward to your response.

Notice that looks is used with he, she, and it in the simple present:

She looks forward to meeting you.

But:

I look forward to meeting you.

Look Forward To Hearing From You: Why Is It Correct?

I look forward to hearing from you is one of the most common forms of this expression in professional English.

The structure is:

look forward to + hearing

Here, hearing is the -ing form of the verb hear.

Correct:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Incorrect:

I look forward to hear from you.

The same rule applies to:

I look forward to speaking with you.

We look forward to receiving your application.

She looks forward to learning more about the opportunity.

Examples of Look Forward To

Here are some natural examples:

1. I look forward to hearing from you.
2. We look forward to working with your team.
3. I look forward to meeting you next week.
4. She looks forward to the annual conference.
5. We look forward to receiving your application.
6. He looks forward to starting his new position.
7. I look forward to discussing the project with you.
8. They look forward to visiting their family.
9. We look forward to your response.
10. I look forward to seeing you again.

Examples of Looking Forward To

Here are examples using the present continuous form:

1. I am looking forward to the weekend.
2. She is looking forward to meeting the new manager.
3. We are looking forward to seeing you.
4. They are looking forward to their vacation.
5. He is looking forward to starting college.
6. I am looking forward to hearing your ideas.
7. We are looking forward to working together.
8. She is looking forward to visiting her family.
9. The children are looking forward to the holidays.
10. I am looking forward to speaking with you.

Which One Should You Use?

If you are still unsure which expression to choose, consider the situation.

For a formal email, use:

I look forward to hearing from you.

For a professional but warm message, use:

I am looking forward to speaking with you next week.

For a casual message, use:

I’m looking forward to seeing you!

For a short email closing, use:

Looking forward to hearing from you.

All of these can be correct. The difference is mainly grammatical structure and tone.

A Simple Rule to Remember

You can remember the entire grammar point with two rules:

Rule 1: Use a form of “be” before looking.

I am looking forward to the meeting.

She is looking forward to the trip.

Rule 2: Use an -ing verb after “look forward to.”

I look forward to meeting you.

We look forward to hearing from you.

So remember:

look forward to + noun

look forward to + -ing verb

am/is/are + looking forward to + noun/-ing verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “look forward” or “looking forward” correct?

Both are correct. Look forward is the base form, while looking forward is the -ing form. For example, I look forward to meeting you and I am looking forward to meeting you are both grammatically correct.

Should I say “I look forward to” or “I am looking forward to”?

Both are correct. I look forward to is especially common in formal and professional communication. I am looking forward to can sound slightly warmer and more conversational.

Is “look forward to meet” correct?

No. When a verb follows look forward to, use the -ing form:

I look forward to meeting you.

Is “look forward to hearing from you” correct?

Yes. I look forward to hearing from you is a standard expression, especially in professional emails.

Is “I look forward to hear from you” correct?

No. The correct form is:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Is “looking forward to meeting you” correct?

Yes.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

Here, meeting is the correct -ing form after the preposition to.

Can I write “Looking forward to hearing from you”?

Yes. It is a common shortened expression in emails and messages. For a more formal style, you can write:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Is “look forward for” correct?

No. The standard expression is look forward to.

I look forward to your response. ✅

I look forward for your response. ❌

Is “looking forward to” formal?

It can be formal, neutral, or informal depending on the sentence. I am looking forward to speaking with you is perfectly acceptable in professional communication, while I’m looking forward to seeing you! is more casual.

Can “looking forward to” be used without “I am”?

Yes, particularly in emails and messages:

Looking forward to hearing from you.

This is a shortened expression. In highly formal writing, a complete sentence may be preferable.

What comes after “look forward to”?

A noun, pronoun, or -ing form can follow look forward to.

Examples:

I look forward to the meeting.

I look forward to your response.

I look forward to meeting you.

What is the difference between “look forward to” and “wait for”?

Look forward to expresses positive anticipation, while wait for simply describes remaining until something happens.

I look forward to the trip.

I am waiting for the bus.

Conclusion

Look forward and looking forward are both correct, but they are used in different grammatical structures.

Use look forward to with the simple present:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Use am/is/are looking forward to with the present continuous:

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

The most important rule is what comes after to. When a verb follows look forward to, use the -ing form:

look forward to meeting ✅

look forward to hear ❌

You can also remember the phrase as:

look forward to + noun

look forward to + -ing verb

Once you understand this pattern, it becomes much easier to choose between look forward and looking forward in emails, conversations, and formal writing.