after leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action that occurs following someone's departure from a place or situation. Example: "After leaving the meeting, I realized I had forgotten to ask an important question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

4.5 hours after leaving Brighton".

The Guardian

"Soon after leaving Paddington station.

Independent

After leaving SAC, Rengan started Sedna.

The New York Times

After leaving Edgewood, he had opportunities.

The New Yorker

He died weeks after leaving the country.

The New Yorker

Five months after leaving, Bud comes back.

The New Yorker

He kept busy after leaving Fitzgerald.

The New York Times - Arts

He was arrested after leaving the closet.

The New Yorker

Hawtrey studied economics after leaving Cambridge.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After leaving the military, Capt.

The Washington Post

He will visit Japan after leaving China.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "after leaving", ensure the context clearly indicates what or where someone is leaving. For example, "After leaving the office, she went to the gym" is clearer than "After leaving, she went to the gym".

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying who is leaving and what they are leaving behind. Avoid sentences like "After leaving, it was quiet", because the reader may not understand who left.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after leaving" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporal relationship. It signifies that an event occurs subsequent to someone's departure. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms the phrase's correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after leaving" is a versatile and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate the timing of an event relative to a departure. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, from formal news reports to academic papers. While its meaning is straightforward, paying attention to clarity and avoiding ambiguity is crucial. Related phrases such as "following departure" and "upon exiting" can offer stylistic variations. The phrase demonstrates a neutral register and is frequently found in contexts related to news, academia, and general knowledge, and is very common in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following departure

Nominalizes 'leaving' to 'departure', creating a more concise phrase.

upon exiting

Uses 'upon' instead of 'after' and 'exiting' instead of 'leaving', offering a slightly more immediate sense of time.

subsequent to departing

Replaces 'after' with 'subsequent to' and 'leaving' with 'departing', increasing formality.

once departed

Replaces 'after' with 'once' and 'leaving' with 'departed', suggesting a completed action.

post-departure

Uses a prefix 'post-' to indicate 'after', creating a more concise and formal tone.

on departure

A concise and formal way of saying after leaving.

in the wake of leaving

Implies a consequence or result following the act of leaving.

subsequently to their exit

More formal replacement, highlighting the completion of the exit.

once they had exited

Adds a sense of finality and completion to the action of exiting.

with the exit concluded

More descriptive and emphasizes the completed action of exiting.

FAQs

How do I use "after leaving" in a sentence?

Use "after leaving" to describe an event that occurs subsequent to a departure. For example, "After leaving the party, I realized I had forgotten my coat."

What can I say instead of "after leaving"?

You can use alternatives like "following departure", "upon exiting", or "once departed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "after left" instead of "after leaving"?

No, "after left" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "after leaving", which uses the gerund form of the verb.

What's the difference between "after leaving" and "before arriving"?

"After leaving" indicates the time period following a departure, while "before arriving" indicates the time period preceding an arrival. They are opposite in temporal orientation.