as I left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as I left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or observation that occurred at the moment of leaving a place or situation. Example: "As I left the party, I noticed the beautiful sunset outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I wondered as I left.

The Guardian

"Hey," he said as I left.

The New York Times - Magazine

I shot him a fierce look as I left.

The New Yorker

As I left campus that evening, one of the N.Y.U.

The New York Times

Well, as soon as I left she died.

The New York Times - Sports

As I left, he called after me with a question.

The Guardian

I was grinning to myself as I left.

The New York Times

As I left them to go to prison.

The Guardian - Business

As I left, I switched on my phone eagerly.

The Guardian - Money

The apartment is exactly as I left it.

The Guardian - Sport

"I looked back as I left, everything was on fire".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more formal alternatives like "upon my departure" in professional or academic writing to maintain a higher level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using "as I left" to describe events that happened significantly before or after the act of leaving. Ensure the event is directly linked to the moment of departure for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as I left" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when an action or observation occurred. Ludwig shows examples where this phrase introduces events concurrent with the act of leaving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as I left" is a grammatically sound and common way to describe events that occurred precisely during the act of leaving. As Ludwig confirms, it is primarily used in news and media contexts, but its neutral register allows for broader application. While generally correct, ensure that the events described are directly related to the moment of departure. Consider more formal alternatives like "upon my departure" in professional settings to enhance formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as I was departing

Uses a continuous tense to describe the action.

upon my departure

Formal alternative emphasizing the act of departing.

on leaving

Shorter, more concise way to describe the action of leaving.

as I walked out

Specifies the manner of leaving (walking).

when I went away

Simple alternative, focusing on the action of going away.

at the time of my exit

More formal and emphatic alternative.

at the point of my departure

Focuses on the specific moment of departure.

just before my leaving

Emphasizes the immediacy before the act of leaving.

moments before my exit

Highlights the timing right before leaving.

before heading out

Informal way to describe the action before leaving.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "as I left"?

You can use alternatives such as "upon my departure", "on leaving", or "when I went away" depending on the context.

How can I use "as I left" in a sentence?

Use "as I left" to describe something that happened exactly at the moment of your departure. For example, "As I left the office, I noticed it was raining."

What is the difference between "as I left" and "after I left"?

"As I left" implies the event happened at the exact moment of leaving, while "after I left" indicates the event happened sometime after the departure. The first refers to an action concurrent to the leaving while the second refers to an action that happened in a later moment.

Is "as I left" formal or informal?

"As I left" is generally considered neutral and can be used in most contexts. For more formal situations, you might consider alternatives such as "upon my departure".