at departure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at departure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time or event when someone is leaving or departing from a place, such as an airport or station. Example: "Passengers are advised to arrive two hours early at departure to ensure a smooth boarding process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At departure; partly, b.

The New York Times

Warm welcome and thanks at departure.

The New York Times

At departure, he left a bathing suit in his room.

The New York Times

Some passengers are searched again at departure gates.

The Guardian - Money

Warm welcome and thanks at departure; prompt, accommodating service.

The New York Times

Stepped-up screening measures were introduced at departure gates in airports along the Eastern Seaboard.

The New York Times

At departure, they are given a jar of granola and a handwritten check.

The New Yorker

They're more like young children: bereft at departure, incapable of imagining a return.

The Washington Post

The equations are discretized fully implicitly in time in order to avoid having to interpolate derivatives at departure points.

Journal of Computational Physics

Now a tow bar and tug can be used to push the plane from the gate at departure.

The New York Times

John Perry Masaya, Nicaragua I see travellers are being checked for symptoms of Ebola at departure points in affected countries.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at departure" to clearly indicate actions or conditions present when someone or something is leaving a specific location. For instance, "Security checks at departure are mandatory."

Common error

Avoid using "at departure" when you mean "after departure" or "before departure". "At departure" pinpoints a specific moment, not a period surrounding it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at departure" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to specify the timing or location of an action. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in specifying procedures, checks, or emotional states that occur as someone leaves a place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at departure" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig, it serves primarily as an adverbial modifier, providing essential temporal or locational context to actions or events occurring when someone or something is leaving a place. It maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for diverse contexts, including News & Media and Science. While "at departure" is generally interchangeable with alternatives like "upon departure", it's crucial to use it accurately, focusing on the precise moment of leaving rather than the periods before or after.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon departure

Formal alternative, emphasizing the moment something leaves.

at the time of leaving

Adds emphasis to the specific time.

on leaving

Emphasizes the action of leaving.

at the point of departure

Highlights the location from which one is leaving.

when leaving

Highlights the timing of the action relative to the departure.

just before departure

Specifies a short time before the leaving.

before leaving

Focuses on actions taken prior to the act of departing.

as departing

Focuses on the action of departing.

as someone departs

Describes the action from the perspective of the person leaving.

on commencement of travel

Formal; refers to the beginning of a journey.

FAQs

How can I use "at departure" in a sentence?

Use "at departure" to specify actions, conditions, or checks performed when someone is leaving a location. For example, "All bags are screened "at departure"."

What are some alternatives to saying "at departure"?

You can use alternatives like "upon departure", "on leaving", or "when leaving" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "at departure" or "on departure"?

"At departure" is generally preferred when specifying a point in time. "On departure" is less common but can be acceptable in certain contexts.

What's the difference between "at departure" and "after departure"?

"At departure" refers to actions happening precisely when leaving, while "after departure" refers to actions or events that occur after the act of leaving is completed.