before departing

USAGE SUMMARY

"before departing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally implies that the event being discussed is about to take place soon, or that someone is about to leave or set off for a destination. For example, "We said our goodbyes before departing for the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bowe played for Ulster between 2003 and 2008, before departing for Wales.

BBC

Before departing, I made one final stop.

The New York Times - Travel

He spent nearly 30 minutes engaging the crowd before departing.

The New York Times - Sports

Before departing Chamonix, I accompanied Jornet on his morning workout.

The New York Times - Magazine

Then, everyone shook hands — the tradition before departing.

The New York Times

The United States team gathered for one practice before departing.

The New York Times

But before departing, she introduces Maria to the neighbor.

The New York Times

Frank Sinatra's last words before departing earth were "I'm losing".

The New Yorker

Passes must be bought before departing the United States.

The New York Times - Travel

Mr. Arafat made no comment before departing the United States.

The New York Times

Before departing, he asked Patterson about his health, and told him that he was looking good.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "before departing" is generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from synonyms like "prior to departure" or "preparatory to leaving."

Common error

Avoid using phrases that repeat the idea of departure unnecessarily. For example, instead of "before departing from the departure lounge", simply say "before departing from the lounge" or "before leaving the departure lounge".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before departing" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It typically modifies a verb, indicating the timing of an action in relation to the act of leaving. Ludwig's examples show it used across a wide range of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

34%

Travel

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before departing" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action occurs prior to leaving. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Wiki articles. While generally neutral in tone, consider the formality of your writing and opt for alternatives like "prior to departure" in more formal settings. Be mindful of potential redundancy and ensure that your sentence clearly specifies who or what is departing for maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to leaving

Replaces "departing" with a more common synonym, slightly altering the formality.

before setting off

Uses a phrasal verb instead of a single verb, making it slightly more informal.

ahead of departure

Uses a noun phrase instead of a gerund phrase, shifting the emphasis slightly.

in preparation for leaving

Focuses on the preparation aspect of the departure.

in anticipation of leaving

More explicitly states the anticipation of departure, adding emphasis.

leading up to the departure

Highlights the period before the actual departure.

on the eve of departure

Implies a sense of time, specifically the day or evening before leaving.

previous to their departure

Adds a possessive pronoun to specify whose departure is being referenced.

on the point of leaving

Emphasizes the imminence of the departure.

preparatory to departure

More formal and emphasizes the preparatory actions.

FAQs

How can I use "before departing" in a sentence?

You can use "before departing" to indicate an action or event that happens prior to someone's leaving. For example, "Before departing, he checked his luggage for the last time."

What are some alternatives to "before departing"?

Alternatives include "prior to leaving", "before leaving", or "ahead of departure". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "before departing" formal or informal?

"Before departing" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. In very informal contexts, you might prefer "before leaving". For academic or business settings the best option is use "prior to leaving".

What should I check before departing on a trip?

This question refers to things to be verified or checked, it's not about how to substitute "before departing" but what you have to check before a trip.