be off work

USAGE SUMMARY

"be off work" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to not be working or to have finished working for the day. Some examples of using "be off work" in a sentence are: - I will be off work at 5 PM today, so we can meet for dinner after. - Sorry, I wasn't able to respond earlier. I was off work yesterday. - I usually go for a walk when I'm off work. It helps me relax. - She's been off work for a week due to illness. - I can't meet you for lunch today, I'm off work sick. - We're off work for two weeks during the holiday season. - He's been off work since the accident, but he's recovering well.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Unlike the current position, parents will be able to be off work at the same time.

The Guardian

He didn't — for years — even want a fan club, because when he's off work he wants to be off work.

The New Yorker

People can be off work for six months to one year and some never recover emotionally, he said.

The Guardian

When they got home the father was already making plans for cleaning up the bike & overhauling the engine during the weeks he'dhave to be off work.

The New Yorker

"Also, Christmas is a family time, but the break between Christmas and New Year is an opportunity to see friends and neighbours who will also be off work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The bank revealed Sants had resigned only a month after announcing that he would be off work until the end of the year following a diagnosis of stress and exhaustion.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Spain is off work.

The Guardian - Opinion

His neighbors know only that he is "off work".

The New York Times - Magazine

In total I was off work for seven months.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was off work for a very embarrassing five weeks.

The Guardian

The last time, I was off work for three weeks".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the reason for being away from work, provide context (e.g., "be off work due to illness" or "be off work on vacation") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "off from work". While it might sound natural, the correct and more widely accepted form is "off work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be off work" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating a state of not being engaged in one's regular employment. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be off work" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate someone's absence from their job. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. It functions primarily to inform or explain someone's absence and is suitable for both neutral and professional registers. Common contexts include News & Media, Science and Wiki. Related phrases include "take time off work" and "be absent from work". A key writing tip is to provide context for the absence, and avoid the less preferred form "off from work".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take time off work

Emphasizes the action of intentionally taking leave.

be on leave from work

Highlights the state of being officially absent from work.

be absent from work

A more general term for not being present at work.

be on sick leave

Specifies that the absence is due to illness.

be on vacation

Indicates the absence is for leisure or holiday.

be out of office

A common phrase, particularly in professional contexts, indicating temporary absence.

be on furlough

Suggests a temporary layoff or mandatory leave, often for economic reasons.

be taking a sabbatical

Implies a longer period of leave, often for study or research.

be temporarily unemployed

Focuses on the employment status during the absence.

have a leave of absence

More formal way to express a longer term absence.

FAQs

How to use "be off work" in a sentence?

You can use "be off work" to indicate someone is not working, like "I will "take time off work" next week" or "She is "on leave from work" due to illness".

What can I say instead of "be off work"?

You can use alternatives like "be on vacation", "be on sick leave", or "be absent from work" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "be off from work"?

While some might use "off from work", it is more common and grammatically preferred to simply say "be off work". The "from" is usually unnecessary.

What's the difference between "be off work" and "be out of office"?

"Be off work" is a general term for not being at work, while "be out of office" is often used in professional settings to indicate temporary absence, typically communicated via email auto-replies.