Talking About the Future in Pharma

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.

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