- 5 days ago
Let’s talk about the future.
Not the futuristic, AI-will-run-the-world kind—but the real, everyday future that pharma professionals deal with constantly. Whether you're reviewing timelines, preparing for inspections, planning site visits, following up on safety reports, or getting ready for the next big product launch—you're always communicating what will happen next.
And here’s the catch: English doesn’t just have one future tense. It has a whole set of tools—will, going to, present continuous, present simple, shall, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. Each one sends a slightly different message.
Let’s break it down with examples that fit across pharma roles.
🛠 Will = Instant decisions or offers
"I’ll double-check the SOP now."
You just decided this. No prior plan. Maybe your colleague just flagged an inconsistency and you said this in the moment. Quick, helpful, responsive.
🗓 Going to = Planned actions
"I’m going to run a compliance check this week."
You already planned it. Maybe it’s on your calendar. You’ve prepared, and now you’re letting others know.
📅 Present Continuous = Confirmed arrangements
"I’m meeting the QA manager at 2 p.m."
It’s booked. You’ve made the call, sent the invite, and it’s in both your diaries. We use the present continuous for these kinds of set appointments.
⏰ Present Simple = Fixed schedules
"The training session starts at 10 a.m."
It’s not about your decision—it’s a timetable. Think meetings, submission deadlines, audits. These are fixed and outside your control.
🎤 Future Continuous = Scene setting
"I’ll be presenting the new safety data at tomorrow’s meeting."
This sounds polished. It puts your listener into the moment. It’s great when you want to show professionalism, especially in presentations or updates.
✅ Future Perfect = Completed before a future time
"We’ll have finalized the submission by next Friday."
You’re showing confidence and control. You’re not halfway through—it’ll be done. This one is perfect for status reports and timelines.
📊 Future Perfect Continuous = Emphasizing duration
"By July, we’ll have been collecting patient feedback for six months."
This structure shows how long something’s been going on. It’s useful in reports, regulatory discussions, or when you want to stress consistency and effort.
Future in Pharma: Common Mistake to Avoid
Overusing “Will”
Many professionals default to will too often.
❌ "The validation will start tomorrow."
✅ Better: "The validation starts tomorrow." (It’s scheduled.)
❌ "I will meet the CRO team tomorrow."
✅ Better: "I’m meeting the CRO team tomorrow." (It’s arranged.)
These small shifts make your English sound more natural, more confident, and more aligned with how native speakers talk.
Let’s put this in action. Imagine this project update:
🗣"I’ll begin by outlining our approach. Next, I’ll be walking through key milestones.
By the end of the quarter, we’ll have completed Phase 2.
And we’re going to initiate recruitment at the new site next month."
See how each form adds a layer—intention, action, completion, plan? It’s not just grammar. It’s a strategy for sounding clear, confident, and credible.
🎧 Quick Pronunciation Tips:
Say I’ll like /aɪl/ and we’ll like /wɪl/ or /wiːl/—don’t break them apart too much.
Stick to going to in professional settings—avoid gonna.
💬 Try This Practice Task:
Write 4 future sentences about your work this week.
Use:
Will: "I’ll review the complaint report this afternoon."
Going to: "I’m going to call the CRO tomorrow."
Present Continuous: "I’m attending the stakeholder meeting on Wednesday."
Future Perfect: "By Friday, we’ll have submitted the audit response."
You’ll start to feel the difference—and so will the people listening to you.
Clarity matters. Your words help shape expectations, timelines, and trust. So the more precisely you talk about the future, the more confidence you build—with colleagues, auditors, investigators, clients, and even yourself.
And that’s the future worth working toward.