away to school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "away to school" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of going to school, often implying a sense of departure or movement towards the school location. Example: "Every morning, the children run away to school, excited for the day ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Then she had sent me away to school.

The New Yorker

Christopher went away to school for several months.

The New Yorker

At age 8, he was sent away to school.

The New York Times - Books

What saved her was being sent away to school.

The Guardian - Books

"When we went away to school, we didn't know what to expect.

The New York Times - Magazine

His infatuation began, he says, a few years later, when he was sent away to school.

Independent

When the author was a young boy, he went away to school in Ireland.

The New Yorker

Andrew is sent away to school, although he and his mother cry about it.

The New York Times - Books

He and his wife, Sarah, sent their sons and their daughter, Catherine, away to school.

The New York Times - Arts

The last child had gone away to school on the West Coast that afternoon.

The New Yorker

Apropos of being split, she describes the feeling she had being sent away to school.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "away to school" to emphasize the separation or distance from home when a student attends school.

Common error

Avoid using "away to school" when the focus is simply on attending school locally, as it implies a sense of departure or distance. Consider using "at school" if the location is not distant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "away to school" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the direction or purpose of movement. It commonly describes the action of leaving home or a familiar environment to attend an educational institution. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "away to school" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of leaving home to attend an educational institution. As validated by Ludwig AI, this phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the separation from one's familiar environment for the purpose of education. It's frequently found in news articles, encyclopedias, and general writing. When using "away to school", be mindful of its inherent implication of distance or relocation, and consider alternatives like "at school" when the focus is simply on the act of attending, as opposed to moving to, a school. The phrase enjoys consistent usage across diverse sources and contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

off to school

Indicates a departure for school, similar to the query but often implies a quicker or more routine departure.

heading to school

Implies movement towards the school location, focusing on the action of going rather than the separation from home.

leaving for school

Highlights the act of departing with school as the destination.

going to boarding school

Specifies the type of school and often implies a longer period away from home.

being sent to school

Emphasizes the action of someone else sending the individual to school.

attending school

Focuses on the act of being a student at a school, without necessarily implying travel or distance.

starting school

Implies the beginning of the school year or a new educational phase.

enrolling in school

Focuses on the act of registering or joining a school.

in school

Simply indicates presence and engagement in school.

matriculating at school

A more formal term for enrolling, typically used in academic contexts.

FAQs

How is "away to school" used in a sentence?

The phrase "away to school" describes someone leaving their home or usual environment to attend school. For instance, "She was sent "away to school" at a young age."

What's a good alternative to "away to school"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "off to school", "going to boarding school", or simply "attending school".

When should I use "away to school" instead of "at school"?

"Away to school" should be used when highlighting the act of leaving home or a familiar place to study. "At school" is more general and refers to someone currently studying at an institution, regardless of distance.

Is it correct to say "go away to school"?

Yes, it is correct. "Go away to school" is commonly used to describe the action of leaving home to attend a school, often a boarding school or a college that is far from home.