away from school

USAGE SUMMARY

"away from school" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone or something is not at school. Example: "Sarah is currently away from school due to a family emergency." This sentence expresses that Sarah is not physically at school because of a personal matter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For somewhere to hang out, away from school and home.

Independent

"By neutral, I presume you mean away from school".

The New Yorker

He ran away from school when he was nine.

The Guardian - Film

Many parents have kept their daughters away from school.

The New York Times

"These things take too much time away from school.

The New York Times - Sports

Do anything to turn your thoughts away from school.

The Guardian

"I was away from school and my friends.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The three-day festival takes time away from school.

The New York Times - Sports

Children won't be turned away from school, but class sizes will grow to untenable proportions.

The New York Times

& a waiver of tuition, plus academic credit for time away from school.

The New Yorker

Seeing him here is slightly disconcerting, like bumping into a teacher away from school.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "away from school" to clearly indicate an absence or separation from the educational environment, whether temporary or permanent.

Common error

Avoid using "away from school" when referring to activities directly related to school but happening elsewhere, such as a field trip. In these cases, "out of school" or "off-site" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "away from school" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate a state of absence or separation from the school environment. Ludwig AI confirms its common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

4%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "away from school" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an absence from the school environment. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's used across diverse contexts, from news reports to scientific articles, primarily functioning as an adverbial phrase. While alternatives like "absent from school" or "off school" exist, the key is to use the phrase appropriately based on the intended meaning and context. Avoiding misuse, such as when referring to school-related activities taking place off-site, ensures clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Absent from school

Uses "absent" instead of "away", emphasizing a state of being not present.

Off school

A more concise way of expressing the same idea, common in British English.

Not attending school

Focuses on the action of not being in attendance.

Out of school

Indicates a temporary or permanent separation from the school environment.

Excluded from school

Highlights a situation where someone is prevented from attending school.

Missing school

Emphasizes the absence and potential negative consequences.

Not in education

A broader term referring to the state of not being enrolled in any educational institution.

On leave from school

Suggests a temporary and authorized absence.

Taking a break from school

Highlights a voluntary interruption of studies.

Outside the school environment

Focuses on the physical location as being other than a school.

FAQs

What does "away from school" mean?

The phrase "away from school" generally means being absent from school for any reason, whether it's due to illness, vacation, suspension, or other circumstances.

What can I say instead of "away from school"?

You can use alternatives like "absent from school", "off school", or "not attending school" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "away from the school" instead of "away from school"?

While grammatically sound, "away from the school" is less common than "away from school". The article "the" is usually omitted unless you're referring to a specific school that has already been mentioned.

What's the difference between "away from school" and "out of school"?

"Away from school" is a general term for not being at school, while "out of school" can sometimes imply an activity or event that is still related to the school, but takes place outside its physical boundaries. For example, "a field trip out of school".