Is it correct to say looking forward to working with you

Many people ask, is it correct to say looking forward to working with you? This article answers that question simply and clearly.

I explain why the phrase works and when to make it better, show correct alternatives for formal emails and casual notes. Also mark the parts of speech and check verbs so you can see grammar. I give many examples and common mistakes to avoid.

Table of Contents

Parts-of-speech analysis for the introduction

Many workers ask, is it correct to say looking forward to working with you when they write emails

Nouns: workers, emails (things/people)
Pronouns: they (refers to workers), it (dummy pronoun in clause)
Verbs: ask (present plural; subject Many workers is plural → correct), write (present; subject they → correct)
Adjectives: Many (quantifier modifying workers)
Adverbs: none
Prepositions: when (subordinating conjunction introducing time clause), to (infinitive marker)
Conjunctions: none besides when
Notes: The embedded question uses is it correct (inversion for direct question inside the clause). Verbs in the main clause agree with their subjects.

The phrase is common in business messages and in casual notes

Nouns: phrase, business messages, casual notes
Pronouns: none
Verbs: is (third-person singular present; subject The phrase singular → correct)
Adjectives: common, business, casual
Prepositions: in (twice, introducing locations)
Conjunctions: and (joins the two places)

Grammarians say the full sentence is I am looking forward to working with you

Nouns: Grammarians, sentence
Pronouns: I, you (in the quoted sentence)
Verbs: say (present plural; subject Grammarians plural → correct), is (present singular linking verb inside quoted sentence; subject the full sentence → correct), am looking (present continuous; I am looking → correct)
Adjectives: full (modifies sentence)
Prepositions: to (part of phrasal verb look forward to)
Conjunctions: none

People often write the shorter form Looking forward to working with you and readers understand it

Nouns: People, form, readers
Pronouns: it (refers to the shorter form)
Verbs: write (present plural; subject People plural → correct), understand (present plural; subject readers plural → correct)
Adverbs: often (modifies write)
Adjectives: shorter (modifies form)
Conjunctions: and (joins two clauses)

For formal letters, use I look forward to working with you instead

Nouns: letters
Pronouns: none
Verbs: use (imperative present; implied subject you → correct), look (base verb in quoted phrase; subject I inside the quote)
Adjectives: formal (modifies letters)
Prepositions: for (introduces purpose)
Conjunctions: none

This guide shows grammar, parts of speech, verb checks, and better options

Nouns: guide, grammar, parts of speech, checks, options
Pronouns: This (demonstrative determiner)
Verbs: shows (third-person singular present; subject This guide singular → correct)
Adjectives: better (modifies options)
Conjunctions: and (joins list items)

— All verbs in the introduction match their subjects and use correct tense. The sentences are short and clear. No fragments or run-ons.

Quick answer: is it correct?

Yes. In most modern business contexts, Looking forward to working with you is acceptable and understandable. For formal writing, prefer the complete sentence: I look forward to working with you or I am looking forward to working with you. Key grammar point: look forward to is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). So working is correct. Look forward to work is incorrect.

Why the phrase works: grammar explained

1. The verb phrase look forward to

Look forward to is a phrasal verb meaning to anticipate with pleasure.
Structure: subject + (am/is/are/will) + looking forward to + noun/gerund.
- Example: I am looking forward to the meeting.
- Example: I look forward to meeting you.

2. Why the gerund is needed

The to in look forward to is a preposition, not the marker for an infinitive. After prepositions, English uses nouns or gerunds.
- Correct: looking forward to working (gerund after preposition)
- Incorrect: looking forward to work (infinitive wrong after preposition)

3. Full forms vs sentence fragments

Full formal forms: I look forward to working with you. I am looking forward to working with you.
Shorter email closing: Looking forward to working with you. (Common; technically a sentence fragment; accepted in business email closings.)

Parts of speech focus and verb checks (many examples)

Below are common forms. I mark parts of speech and check verbs.

Formal present simple:

Sentence: I look forward to working with you.
Parts of speech: I (pronoun subject), look (verb present simple, agrees with subject), forward (adverbial particle), to (preposition), working (gerund noun), with (preposition), you (object pronoun).
Verb check: look matches subject I. Correct.

Formal present continuous:

Sentence: I am looking forward to working with you.
Parts of speech: I (pronoun), am (auxiliary verb), looking (present participle), forward (adverbial particle), to(preposition), working (gerund), with you (prepositional object).
Verb check: am looking is present continuous. Correct.

Short email closing (fragment):

Sentence: Looking forward to working with you.
Parts of speech: Looking (present participle beginning a verbless clause), forward (adverbial particle), to(preposition), working (gerund), with (preposition), you (object pronoun).
Verb check: No main verb in the clause; Looking functions as a reduced clause. Readers accept it in context. For strict grammar, it is fragmentary.

Wrong form with infinitive:

Wrong: I look forward to work with you.
Why wrong: to is a preposition; it needs a noun or gerund. work (infinitive base) is incorrect here.
Fix: I look forward to working with you.

Plural subject:

Sentence: We look forward to working with you.
Parts of speech: We (pronoun plural), look (verb present plural), forward to working with you (prepositional phrase).
Verb check: look matches plural subject We. Correct.

Past context (reported speech):

Sentence: She said she was looking forward to working with us.
Parts of speech: She (pronoun), said (verb past), she (pronoun), was looking (past continuous), forward to working (gerund phrase), with us (preposition + object).
Verb check: Past tense said and past continuous was looking align. Correct.

Formal vs informal: when to use each form

Formal (recommended for official letters, first contact)

I look forward to working with you. (Present simple — formal and direct.)
I am looking forward to working with you. (Slightly warmer, still formal.)

Informal (good for quick emails)

Looking forward to working with you. (Short, warm, common.)
Can’t wait to work with you! (Very informal — use with friendly colleagues).

Which to choose?

Use full sentence for first contact with clients, job offers, contracts, or formal proposals.
Use fragment or short form in day-to-day email exchanges with colleagues after rapport is built.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Using infinitive after to (wrong):
- Wrong: I look forward to meet you.
- Fix: I look forward to meeting you.
Using to as part of infinitive (confusion):
- Wrong: I look forward to work with you.
- Fix: I look forward to working with you.
Forgetting the object after with (awkward):
- Wrong: I look forward to working. (Vague)
- Fix: I look forward to working with you. or I look forward to working on this project.
Using fragment in very formal writing:
- If your letter is formal, do not use the fragment Looking forward to working with you. Use full sentence.
Wrong tense for past context:
- Wrong: He said he is looking forward to working with us. (may be okay if it remains true)
- Better: He said he was looking forward to working with us. (tense backshift for reported speech)

American vs British English: any differences?

Both dialects accept I look forward to working with you and I am looking forward to working with you.
British English often prefers I look forward to hearing from you in formal letters. Americans also use it.
Americans commonly use the short form Looking forward to working with you in emails. British writers may use the same short form but might favor the full sentence in very formal contexts.
Overall: No strong grammar difference. Choice depends more on formality than dialect.

Contextual examples: email closings and replies

Job offer (formal):

Email line: I look forward to working with you on this project.
POS: I (pronoun), look (verb present), forward to working (prepositional phrase with gerund), with you(prepositional object), on this project (adverbial phrase).
Verb check: look matches subject I. Correct.

Post-meeting email (casual):

Email line: Thanks — looking forward to working with you.
POS: Thanks (interjection/noun), dash, looking (participle clause), forward to working with you (gerund phrase).
Verb check: Clause reduced to a fragment. Accepted in casual mail.

Contract negotiation (very formal):

Email line: We look forward to working with you and your team to finalize the agreement.
POS: We (pronoun plural), look (verb present plural), forward to working (gerund phrase), with you and your team (prepositional compound), to finalize (infinitive of purpose).
Verb check: look matches We. Correct.

Interview follow-up:

Email line: I am excited about the role and look forward to working with the team.
POS: I (pronoun), am excited (verb phrase), and (conjunction), look forward (verb phrase), to working (gerund phrase), with the team (prepositional phrase).
Verb check: parallel verbs am excited and look forward are balanced. Correct.

Tone and politeness: subtle differences

I look forward to working with you. — Formal, polite, neutral. Good for business.
I am looking forward to working with you. — Warmer, slightly more personal. Use when you want friendliness.
Looking forward to working with you. — Casual, efficient. Good for quick emails.
Can’t wait to work with you! — Very informal, enthusiastic. Use only with close colleagues.

Politeness tip: For new clients or senior recipients, prefer the full sentence.

Practical tips and templates

Formal template (first contact):
- Dear [Name],
- Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working with you.
- Best regards,
- [Your name]
Warm template (after call):
- Hi [Name],
- Great speaking with you today. I am looking forward to working with you on this project.
- Thanks,
- [Your name]
Short template (quick reply):
- Thanks — looking forward to working with you.
- [Your name]
When to add specifics:
- Add project name or start date for clarity: I look forward to working with you starting July 1 on the marketing plan.
If you are not sure about timing:
- I look forward to working with you when the project begins. (Adds safe buffer)

Rewrite: improve grammar, clarity, and style

Below are three sample sentences and improved rewrites. I keep language simple.

Original 1 (common but informal):

Looking forward to working with you.

Polished (formal):

I look forward to working with you.
- Why: Full sentence. Use in first contact or formal email.

Original 2 (wrong):

I look forward to work with you.

Fixed:

I look forward to working with you.
- Why: to is a preposition here. Use gerund working.

Original 3 (clumsy):

Looking forward to working with you, please let me know the time.

Polished:

I am looking forward to working with you. Please let me know the time.
- Why: Split into two sentences. First is a complete clause. Second gives request clearly.

More practice examples (with parts-of-speech and verb checks)

I look forward to meeting you next Monday.
- I (pronoun), look (verb present), forward to meeting (gerund phrase), you (object), next Monday (time). Verb agreement correct.
We are looking forward to working with the new vendor.
- We (plural pronoun), are looking (present continuous), forward to working (gerund phrase), with the new vendor (prepositional object). Correct.
Looking forward to learning more about the role. (informal)
- Fragment used as closing. Acceptable in casual emails.
She said she looks forward to working with us.
- Reported speech moved to present: looks (third-person singular present) matches subject she. OK if statement still applies.
He said he would look forward to working with them.
- Reported speech past: would look forward used. Tense aligns. Correct.

Conclusion

Yes, it is correct to say Looking forward to working with you in many emails and messages. For formal writing, use the full sentence I look forward to working with you or I am looking forward to working with you. Always use the gerund working after to in look forward to. Check verb agreement: I look vs We look vs He looks. Use the full sentence for first contact and formal documents. Use the short form for quick friendly emails.

FAQs

1. Is Looking forward to working with you grammatically correct? Yes in context. It is a reduced clause used in email closings. For strict grammar, it is a fragment. In business emails it is accepted.

2. Should I write I look forward to working with you or I am looking forward to working with you? Both are correct. I look forward to is more formal. I am looking forward to is warmer.

3. Why do we use working instead of to work? Because to in look forward to is a preposition. After prepositions we use nouns or gerunds (working), not infinitives (to work).

4. Can I start an email with Looking forward to working with you? Better to use it at the end as a closing. If you start with it, follow with a main clause or context.

5. Is the fragment acceptable in a job acceptance email? Use the full sentence in job acceptance. It is more formal and clearer.

6. Does British English prefer one form? No major difference. Both forms are used in both dialects. Formality matters more than region.

7. Can I say We look forward to working with you? Yes. Use look for plural subject We. Correct.

8. Is look forward to always positive? Yes, it signals anticipation or positive expectation. For neutral or negative contexts, choose different words.

10. What is a common error to avoid? Do not write I look forward to work with you. Use working.