I look to hearing from you very soon

[Mitiam]

Hello,

I just would like to make sure concerning the type of phrase we can put at the end of a text/business letter. For example, is it correct to say/write : I look to hearing from you very soon?

Thanks for any suggestion!
PS. With this phrase I've also a kind of question : why do we have to write "hearing", but not just "hear" that will come after "to"? I'm going to look for my dictionary ; I need to better my grammar...

 

[MichaelW]

I look forward to hearing from you soon = I expect that you will reply to me quickly. In business etiquette I think this is implying that the person you are writing to might not want to reply, or might want to delay a reply, you are rather pushing them to answer, maybe this is not the effect that you want.

I wouldn't put a "very" in there, "soon" says all you want to say.

If you are really impatient (a bailiff looking to collect a debt or similar) then things like
- I await your earliest reply
- I look forward to hearing from you soonest
work - but often nowadays less old-fashioned language is used
- Please reply to this letter by return of post, or...
- You have 21 days to respond to this letter, or...
but these as I say this is only in extreme cases.

Edit: a link I put in here doesn't seem to work every time so I will put in part of the quote...

Infinitive or -ing?

[...when to use the infinitive...]

When to use -ing

The -ing form is used when the word is the subject of a sentence or clause:

• Swimming is good exercise.
• Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

The -ing form is used after a preposition:

• I look forward to meeting you. {as in your own example}
• They left without saying "Goodbye."

The -ing form is used after certain verbs:
- avoid, dislike, enjoy, finish, give up, mind/not mind, practise

• I dislike getting up early.
• Would you mind opening the window?

 

[felicity09]

You could also say "I hope to hear from you soon."