absent from work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absent from work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to someone being away from their job or place of employment. For example: John was absent from work for three days last week due to illness.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both men and women experience episodes during their working careers where they are absent from work.

Journal for Labour Market Research

They're more likely to be absent from work.

The Washington Post

He was absent from work and lost his apprenticeship in the sheet-metal workers union.

The New York Times

Employees absent from work on paid sick leave continue to earn vacation at their normal rate.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

About one in every three employees seen by their occupational physician is absent from work because of psychosocial health complaints.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

Employees who exercise regularly are generally healthier, more productive and less likely to be absent from work.

The Guardian

The average amount of time people were absent from work in Norway in 2002, not including vacations, was 4.8 weeks.

The New York Times

His landlord, an ex-copper, is the only one who cares enough to report that he's been absent from work for three days.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Mr. Chung was absent from work for more than two months after being jailed following his arrest in April and his hospitalization for a health exam.

The New York Times

Dependent variable is the dummy for being absent from work.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Self-employed persons absent from work, except for family workers, are considered employed if they remain active during the absence.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "absent from work", clearly state the reason for the absence if relevant to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "absent from work" and "absenteeism" interchangeably. "Absent from work" describes a state of being away, while "absenteeism" refers to a pattern or habit of being away from work, often without a good reason.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absent from work" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, describing a state of being away from one's employment. It often modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that a person or employee is not present at their job. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absent from work" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe someone's state of being away from their job. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, ranging from scientific studies and news reports to formal business communications. While interchangeable with alternatives like "away from work" or "off work", it's important to use it accurately and provide context to avoid confusion. Remember to differentiate it from "absenteeism", which refers to a pattern of absences. The most frequent sources using this phrase are Science and News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

away from work

A more general term indicating being away from the workplace, without specifying the reason.

off work

Commonly used to indicate a temporary absence, often due to illness or vacation.

off sick

Specifically indicates absence due to illness.

on leave

Indicates an authorized absence, such as maternity leave or sabbatical.

not working

A broader term implying not currently engaged in work, which could be temporary or permanent.

out of office

Focuses on the physical absence from the workplace.

taking time off

Highlights the act of intentionally taking a break from work.

non-attendance at work

A more formal and less common way to describe being absent.

skipping work

Informal term referring to an unapproved absence.

playing hooky

An informal and playful way to describe being absent without permission.

FAQs

How do I use "absent from work" in a sentence?

You can use "absent from work" to describe an employee's state of being away from their job. For example, "He was "absent from work" due to a family emergency" or "The study examined the impact of stress on employees being "absent from work"".

What are some alternatives to "absent from work"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "away from work", "off work", "on leave", or "not working".

Is it correct to say "absence from work" instead of "absent from work"?

While both are related, "absence from work" refers to the state or condition of being away (a noun), while "absent from work" describes someone who is in that state (an adjective phrase). For instance, you might say "His prolonged "absence from work" raised concerns" or "He was "absent from work" for several days".

What factors might cause someone to be "absent from work"?

Various factors can lead to someone being "absent from work", including illness, family emergencies, stress, burnout, or approved leave. Workplace conditions and policies can also influence absenteeism rates.