as he exited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as he exited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action occurring simultaneously with someone leaving a place. Example: "As he exited the building, he turned to wave goodbye to his friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The crowd roared, and the champion waved as he exited.

The New York Times - Sports

Even as he exited, John Edwards demonstrated courage and class.

The New York Times

"As he exited the car, the gentlemen took off running.

The Guardian

At Broadway-Lafayette, he smiled and waved as he exited the train.

The New York Times

The porters, doormen and bus drivers roared as he exited the stage to backslaps and handshakes.

The New York Times

Owens let Cesaro take his place, saying nothing as he exited.

Independent

As he exited, his coat got stuck in the taxi's door.

The New York Times

Before the pat down, Bieber "kept going into his pants pocket" as he exited his vehicle.

Independent

"Let's put this thing away!" Trump said as he exited the stage in Spartanburg.

The Guardian

Thirteen seconds later, he received their hugs as he exited the game for good.

The New York Times - Sports

"Sharpen your pencils," Fassel said with a laugh as he exited today's team practice.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as he exited" to clearly indicate that two actions occurred simultaneously, creating a sense of immediacy and connection between the events.

Common error

Avoid using "as he exited" when the two actions are not directly related in time or causality. Ensure the context clearly supports the simultaneous occurrence of the actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as he exited" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically introducing a clause that describes an action or state occurring concurrently with someone's departure. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as he exited" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to denote simultaneous actions during someone's departure. According to Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and frequent occurrence in news, media, and encyclopedic content, makes it generally acceptable in both formal and informal writing. Pay attention to ensure the actions are simultaneous. Alternatives like "when he left" and "upon his departure" can provide subtle shifts in tone. Ludwig's examples and the positive assessment of the phrase confirm its utility and acceptance in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as he was leaving

Adds emphasis to the continuous action of leaving at the point in time.

when he left

Uses a simpler verb and conjunction to convey the same action.

on his way out

Emphasizes the direction of movement as the person is leaving.

just after exiting

Replaces "as" with "just after" to emphasize the immediacy of the action following the exit.

as he stepped out

Focuses on the physical action of stepping out, suitable when leaving a vehicle or small space.

upon his departure

Replaces the conjunction and verb with a noun and preposition, creating a more formal tone.

after he had exited

Uses the past perfect to emphasize that the exiting action was completed before the subsequent action.

at the time of his exit

Transforms the phrase into a more formal and nominalized structure.

when he came out

Uses the verb 'came out' instead of 'exited', implying the place is a room or building.

subsequent to his leaving

A more formal and somewhat less common way to express the same sequence of events.

FAQs

How can I use "as he exited" in a sentence?

The phrase "as he exited" is used to describe something happening simultaneously with someone's departure. For example: "As he exited the building, he waved goodbye."

What are some alternatives to "as he exited"?

Similar phrases include "when he left", "upon his departure", or "as he was leaving". The best alternative depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever incorrect to use "as he exited"?

While grammatically correct, using "as he exited" might sound awkward if a simpler alternative like "when he left" would suffice. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and clarity of your writing.

What's the difference between "as he exited" and "after he exited"?

"As he exited" implies the two actions occurred at the same time. "After he exited" indicates that the exiting action was completed before the second action began.