before going off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before going off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time or condition that must be met prior to leaving or departing from a place or situation. Example: "Make sure to finish your homework before going off to the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In January, at a party the volunteers had before going off to different villages, Mr. Fogelman squeezed in a friendly chat that lasted a few hours.

The New York Times

He made two great breaks before going off and was proving to be Wales' best attacking threat.

BBC

He shouted "Fine," before going off fishing with Liam.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He had to top that before going off to college.

The New York Times

Patterson, before going off to college, gives Nuzum a fragment of a poem by Allen Ginsberg.

The New York Times - Books

After a cagey opening David Villa put Atlético ahead on 38 minutes before going off injured.

The Guardian - Sport

He was elected class president in high school before going off to Stanford and Yale Law.

The New York Times

She said she was glad to have the early training before going off to college.

The New York Times

She attended Lexington Junior High School and Henry Clay High School before going off to college.

The New York Times - Arts

The restaurant's design, like the menu, achieves some brilliant effects before going off the rails.

The New York Times - Food

Korey Stringer threw up three times before going off the field.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "before going off", ensure the context clearly indicates the destination or activity being departed for. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "before going off" when the context doesn't clearly define where someone is departing to. For instance, instead of saying "He packed before going off", specify: "He packed before going off to college."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before going off" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the temporal relationship between an action and a subsequent departure. It modifies a verb by specifying when the action occurred relative to the act of leaving, as shown in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before going off" is a prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate the timing of an action relative to a departure. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and sees frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's essential to ensure clarity regarding the destination or activity being departed for. For more formal settings, alternatives like "prior to departing" might be more appropriate. Remember to avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying the destination when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before leaving

Uses the simpler term "leaving" instead of "going off", making it less emphatic.

prior to departing

Replaces "going off" with the more formal "departing", maintaining the temporal relationship.

just before taking leave

Highlights the moment right before departure, using a slightly more formal tone with "taking leave".

before setting out

Replaces "going off" with "setting out", emphasizing the start of a journey.

leading up to departure

Highlights the series of events or actions before leaving.

in anticipation of leaving

Emphasizes the anticipation or preparation before departure.

in advance of departure

Emphasizes the timing, indicating actions done well before leaving.

ahead of the departure

Focuses on the period leading up to the departure, using a more formal tone.

preceding the departure

Uses a more formal term, "preceding", to denote what comes before departure.

preparatory to leaving

Highlights the preparatory actions taken before departing.

FAQs

How can I use "before going off" in a sentence?

Use "before going off" to describe actions or events that occur prior to someone's departure. For example, "She finished her homework before going off to the party."

What are some alternatives to "before going off"?

Alternatives include "before leaving", "prior to departing", or "ahead of the departure", depending on the formality required.

Is "before going off" formal or informal?

"Before going off" is generally considered informal. For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "prior to departing" or "preceding the departure".

What's the difference between "before going off" and "before leaving"?

While both phrases indicate actions taken before departure, "before going off" often implies a sense of direction or purpose in the departure, whereas "before leaving" is a more general term for any departure.