When someone writes “looking forward to working with you,” they are expressing positive anticipation about a future professional or personal collaboration. You may see this phrase in business emails, job offers, client messages, networking conversations, and workplace communication. It sounds friendly, professional, and confident without being overly formal.
The phrase can sometimes cause confusion because “to” is normally associated with an infinitive, as in “to work.” However, in “looking forward to,” the word “to” is a preposition, so it should be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form). That is why “looking forward to working with you” is grammatically correct, while “looking forward to work with you” is not. Let’s explore the meaning, grammar, examples, common mistakes, and the best situations for using this expression.
Quick Answer
“Looking forward to working with you” is grammatically correct and means you are excited or pleased about working together in the future. Here, “to” is a preposition, so “working” is the correct form. It is widely used in professional emails and workplace communication.
Why People Confuse It
The confusion usually comes from the word “to.”
English learners often learn the pattern:
to + base verb
For example:
- I want to work with you.
- We plan to work together.
- She hopes to work on the project.
But “look forward to” works differently. In this expression, “to” is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.
Therefore, it is followed by a noun or gerund:
- I look forward to the meeting.
- I look forward to working with you.
- We look forward to hearing from you.
This grammatical distinction explains why “looking forward to working with you” is correct.
First Word: “Looking”
Looking is the present participle of the verb look.
In the expression “look forward to,” it forms part of a fixed phrase meaning to anticipate something with pleasure or positive expectation.
When you say:
I am looking forward to working with you.
you are saying that you feel positive about the opportunity to work together.
The phrase can appear in different forms:
- I look forward to working with you.
- I am looking forward to working with you.
- We look forward to working with you.
- She is looking forward to meeting the team.
The tense and subject can change, but the grammatical structure remains the same.
Second Word: “Working”
Working is the -ing form (gerund) of the verb work.
In “looking forward to working with you,” the word working follows the preposition to.
This is important because the phrase requires a gerund rather than an infinitive.
Correct
I look forward to working with you.
Incorrect
I look forward to work with you.
The same pattern appears in other common expressions:
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- She looks forward to meeting you.
- We look forward to discussing the proposal.
- They look forward to seeing you.
Comparison Table
| Expression | Correct? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Looking forward to working with you | ✅ | Correct gerund after the preposition “to” |
| Looking forward to work with you | ❌ | “Work” incorrectly uses the infinitive form |
| I look forward to working with you | ✅ | Professional and grammatically correct |
| I am looking forward to working with you | ✅ | Natural and friendly |
| I look forward to work with you | ❌ | “To” requires a gerund in this expression |
| Looking forward to working together | ✅ | Natural and professional |
| Looking forward to collaborating with you | ✅ | Professional alternative |
| I look forward to our collaboration | ✅ | Uses a noun after “to” |
When to Use Each
“I look forward to working with you”
This version is especially appropriate for formal or professional writing.
Example:
I look forward to working with you on the upcoming project.
It works well in business emails, formal correspondence, proposals, and professional introductions.
“I’m looking forward to working with you”
This version sounds slightly warmer and more conversational.
Example:
I’m looking forward to working with you and the rest of the team.
It is excellent for workplace messages, emails, introductions, and friendly professional communication.
“Looking forward to working with you”
This is a common email closing or informal professional expression.
Example:
Thanks again for your time. Looking forward to working with you!
It is natural, but it is technically a sentence fragment when used by itself. In emails and messages, however, such shortened constructions are widely accepted.
Examples of “Looking Forward to Working With You”
Here are natural examples in different situations:
- I’m looking forward to working with you on this exciting project.
- I look forward to working with you and your team.
- We’re looking forward to working with you in the coming months.
- I’m really looking forward to working with you and learning from your experience.
- Thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to working with you.
- Our entire team is looking forward to working with you.
- I’m looking forward to working with you to achieve our shared goals.
- We look forward to working with you on the new campaign.
- I’m looking forward to working with you and getting started next week.
- It was great speaking with you, and I look forward to working with you.
- I’m looking forward to working with you on this important assignment.
- We are excited about the partnership and look forward to working with you.
- I look forward to working with you and building a successful partnership.
- I’m looking forward to working with you in your new role.
- Everyone here is looking forward to working with you.
Common Mistakes
1. “Looking forward to work with you”
❌ Incorrect:
I am looking forward to work with you.
✅ Correct:
I am looking forward to working with you.
The preposition to must be followed by the gerund working in this construction.
2. “Looking forward for working with you”
❌ Incorrect:
I am looking forward for working with you.
✅ Correct:
I am looking forward to working with you.
The fixed expression is look forward to, not look forward for.
3. “Looking forward working with you”
❌ Incorrect:
I am looking forward working with you.
✅ Correct:
I am looking forward to working with you.
The preposition to should not be omitted.
4. “Looking forward to work together”
❌ Incorrect:
We are looking forward to work together.
✅ Correct:
We are looking forward to working together.
Again, working is the gerund required after the preposition.
5. Overusing the phrase
Although the expression is professional and useful, repeating it in every email can make your writing sound formulaic.
You can sometimes vary it with:
- I’m excited to work with you.
- I’m pleased to collaborate with you.
- I’m eager to get started.
- I’m excited about our collaboration.
Memory Trick
Use this simple rule:
Look forward to + noun or -ing verb
Think of “to” as a preposition in this expression.
So:
- look forward to the meeting
- look forward to your response
- look forward to hearing from you
- look forward to working with you
- look forward to meeting you
If you can replace the verb with a noun, it becomes easier to remember:
I look forward to the project.
I look forward to working on the project.
American vs. British English
There is no significant difference between American and British English when it comes to the grammar of “looking forward to working with you.”
Both varieties use:
look forward to + noun/gerund
The expression is common in professional communication in both forms of English.
For example:
American English:
I’m looking forward to working with you.
British English:
I’m looking forward to working with you.
The wording and grammatical structure are essentially the same. Differences in business-email style may exist between organizations or individuals, but the phrase itself is standard in both varieties.
Similar Words and Expressions
If you want to avoid repeating “looking forward to working with you,” consider these alternatives:
Professional
- I look forward to collaborating with you.
- I look forward to working together.
- I’m pleased to have the opportunity to work with you.
- I’m eager to begin working with you.
- I look forward to our collaboration.
Friendly Professional
- I’m excited to work with you.
- I’m excited to get started.
- I’m happy to be working with you.
- I’m looking forward to getting started together.
More Formal
- I look forward to a successful collaboration.
- I look forward to working together toward our shared goals.
- I am pleased to begin this collaboration.
The best choice depends on the relationship, context, and level of formality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “looking forward to working with you” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Looking forward to working with you” is grammatically correct. The word “to” is a preposition here, so it is followed by the gerund working.
Is it correct to say “looking forward to work with you”?
No. In this expression, “working” is required.
Correct:
I look forward to working with you.
Incorrect:
I look forward to work with you.
Is “I look forward to working with you” formal?
Yes. “I look forward to working with you” is professional and appropriate for business emails, workplace communication, clients, colleagues, and formal correspondence.
Is “I’m looking forward to working with you” professional?
Yes. It is professional but slightly warmer and more conversational than “I look forward to working with you.”
Can I use “looking forward to working with you” in an email?
Absolutely. It is a common and natural phrase for professional emails, especially when beginning a new project, partnership, job, or business relationship.
What is the difference between “I look forward to” and “I’m looking forward to”?
Both express positive anticipation. “I look forward to” can sound slightly more formal, while “I’m looking forward to” often sounds more conversational and personal.
Can “working” be replaced with another -ing verb?
Yes. The same grammatical pattern works with many verbs:
- I look forward to meeting you.
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- We look forward to discussing the matter.
- She looks forward to seeing the results.
Final Verdict
“Looking forward to working with you” is correct, natural, and professional.
The key grammar point is simple: in “look forward to,” the word to functions as a preposition, so it should be followed by a noun or gerund.
Therefore:
✅ I look forward to working with you.
❌ I look forward to work with you.
Whether you choose “I look forward to working with you” or the warmer “I’m looking forward to working with you” depends mainly on your tone and context. Both are excellent choices for professional communication.
Remember This
Look forward to + noun or -ing form
- ✅ look forward to working
- ✅ look forward to meeting
- ✅ look forward to hearing
- ❌ look forward to work
- ❌ look forward to meet
- ❌ look forward to hear
When you remember that “to” is a preposition, the correct grammar becomes much easier to recognize.
Conclusion
The phrase “looking forward to working with you” is a reliable choice when you want to show enthusiasm about a future professional relationship. It works naturally in business emails, job-related communication, client correspondence, networking, and team introductions.
The most important lesson is grammatical rather than stylistic: “look forward to” takes a noun or gerund, not an infinitive. Once you understand this pattern, you can confidently use expressions such as “look forward to hearing from you,” “look forward to meeting you,” and “look forward to working with you” correctly.
