attendance is optional

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "attendance is optional" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in any context where you want to emphasize that attendance is not mandatory. For example, you could say: "The company picnic is tomorrow, but attendance is optional if you have other plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Attendance is optional for fourth year and above graduate students.

Stanford University

Mass is celebrated and confession is heard on each retreat; attendance is optional.

The New York Times - Travel

Students graduating in Autumn, Winter, or Summer Quarter must produce a poster in the quarter in which they graduate to be displayed at the symposium, however their attendance is optional.

Stanford University

The school is self-governing (students and staff each have a voice in policy matters), and class attendance is optional; the children are free to do as they please except in concerns of safety, health, or interference with the rights of others.

Britannica

Attendance is optional.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Attending the seminars is optional; usually there is a student attendance of around 75%.

BMC Medical Education

Education is vital to a child's success and attendance isn't optional.

The Guardian

Contrary to what your sister says, this is not akin to stuffing your purse at a restaurant buffet, because there, under our system of government, attendance is still optional.

The New York Times - Magazine

In do-it-yourself spirituality, church attendance is entirely optional.

Huffington Post

Although re-engaging students who have not graduated is possible (unlike an afterschool program, attendance is not optional), students' scheduling limitations may not permit them to re-enroll in the same elective class.

American Journal of Community Psychology

Though attendance in my Stanford class is optional, it is considerably higher than in many standard lecture-based classes.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attendance is optional" to clearly communicate that there will be no negative consequences for not being present. This is especially useful in academic or professional contexts where individuals may have conflicting obligations.

Common error

Don't assume everyone understands that "attendance is optional" implies no penalty for absence. Explicitly state that there will be no grade deduction or negative impact for those who do not attend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attendance is optional" functions as a declarative statement, indicating that being present or participating in a particular event, meeting, or activity is not compulsory. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attendance is optional" is a grammatically correct and widely understood way to communicate that being present at a particular event or activity is not mandatory. Ludwig AI provides examples from academic, news, and scientific sources demonstrating its versatility. While the phrase has a neutral register, it's crucial to ensure clarity and explicitly state that there are no penalties for non-attendance. Alternatives like "participation is voluntary" or "presence is not mandatory" can be used for variety, but the core message remains consistent: presence is a choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attendance is voluntary

Indicates attendance is based on one's own will.

participation is not required

Emphasizes the lack of obligation to participate.

presence is not mandatory

Focuses on the lack of a compulsory requirement to be present.

it is not compulsory to attend

Highlights the non-compulsory nature of attending.

participation is voluntary

Stresses that participation is based on personal choice.

it is up to you to attend

Indicates that the decision to attend rests with the individual.

you are not required to attend

Directly states the absence of a requirement to attend.

it is not obligatory to be there

Emphasizes the lack of obligation to be present.

optional participation

Focuses on the elective aspect of the participation.

non-compulsory attendance

Attendance is not required.

FAQs

How can I use "attendance is optional" in a sentence?

You can use "attendance is optional" to indicate that being present is not mandatory, for example: "While we encourage you to join the workshop, attendance is optional".

What does "attendance is optional" mean?

It means that there are no penalties or negative consequences for not attending an event, meeting, or class.

What are some alternatives to "attendance is optional"?

Alternatives include "participation is voluntary", "presence is not mandatory", or "it is up to you to attend".

Is there a more formal way to say "attendance is optional"?

In more formal settings, you might say "participation is not required" or "attendance is not mandatory" to convey the same meaning.