annual leave

USAGE SUMMARY

"annual leave" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to time off that an employee is allowed from work each year, usually as part of a benefit package. For example: "Our company provides two weeks of annual leave for full-time employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No annual leave.

The Guardian - Music

But many were using their annual leave.

Independent

Use of sick leave during annual leave.

Cornell University

5 CFR § 630.406 - Use of sick leave during annual leave.

Cornell University

Two years later Parliament enshrined the right to a week's paid annual leave, and demand soared.

The Economist

Issues to be studied include placements a long way from home and inflexibility around annual leave.

Independent

Thomson chaired the conference and flew home for a week's annual leave.

The Guardian

(4) Accrued annual leave includes all accumulated, accrued, and restored annual leave, as applicable, in addition to annual leave earned and available to the employee after the effective date of the reduction in force.

Cornell University

For annual leave, sick leave, something to better my life for my son and my grandson.

The Guardian - Opinion

When finalising his defence, he took two weeks of annual leave to work on the documents.

The Guardian

The lights even flicker when he hands in a form for a day of annual leave.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employment benefits, use "annual leave" to clearly communicate the provision for paid time off each year. This term is widely understood in a professional setting.

Common error

Avoid using "annual leave" interchangeably with sick leave or personal leave. "Annual leave" specifically refers to planned vacation time, whereas sick leave is for illness and personal leave covers various personal matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "annual leave" functions primarily as a noun phrase, identifying a specific type of employee benefit. It describes the entitlement to a certain amount of paid time off each year. Ludwig confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "annual leave" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase referring to paid time off granted to employees each year. Ludwig confirms this. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While synonyms like "paid time off" and "vacation time" exist, "annual leave" is particularly useful in formal discussions of employment benefits. A key writing tip is to avoid confusing it with other types of leave, such as sick leave. Understanding its proper use ensures clear and professional communication in workplace contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

annual vacation

The noun vacation is used instead of the noun leave.

paid time off

This alternative is broader and encompasses various types of paid leave, including vacation, sick leave, and personal days.

vacation leave

This alternative combines “vacation” and “leave” for redundancy and emphasis.

vacation time

This alternative specifically refers to time off taken for leisure or travel.

paid vacation

This emphasizes that the vacation time is compensated by the employer.

holiday entitlement

This phrase is more common in British English and refers to the number of holidays an employee is entitled to.

time off

This is a general term for any absence from work.

leave of absence

This refers to a longer period of absence from work, often for personal or medical reasons.

personal leave

This is time off used for personal matters.

days off

This is a simple way to refer to periods when one is not working, but it lacks the formality of "annual leave".

FAQs

How is "annual leave" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "annual leave" is used to refer to the amount of paid time off an employee receives each year. For example: "Employees are entitled to 20 days of "annual leave" per year."

What are some synonyms for "annual leave"?

Alternatives to "annual leave" include "paid time off", "vacation time", or "holiday entitlement". The best choice depends on the context and regional usage.

Is "annual leave" the same as "sick leave"?

No, "annual leave" and "sick leave" are different. "Annual leave" is for planned time off, such as vacations, while sick leave is specifically for when an employee is ill.

How do I request "annual leave" from my employer?

Typically, you would submit a formal request to your manager or HR department, following company policy. This often involves filling out a leave request form, specifying the dates of your intended "time off" and any relevant details.