before he quits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before he quits" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame or condition that must be met prior to someone resigning or leaving a position. Example: "We need to finalize the project details before he quits to ensure a smooth transition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Sulaiman said he had urged Chavez to retire, but Chavez has pleaded with the W.B.C. for one more chance to regain a championship belt before he quits.

The New York Times - Sports

He is looking, in effect, for some kind of closure before he quits the scene.It's a poignant illustration of Enoch Powell's observation that all political careers end in failure.

The Economist

In King's last trading update before he quits next month, Sainsbury's said sales at stores open a year or more were down 1.1%, excluding fuel, in the last three months.

The Guardian - Business

Either way, the recipient has an incentive to ramp up the firm's stock price before he quits or gets fired — and, in banking, that usually involves finding ways to take on more leverage and risk.

The New Yorker

And the French economy is now growing faster than that of any other big euro-area country.Presenting his first (and last) budget before he quits the government to take over as head of the ruling UMP party, Mr Sarkozy was triumphant.

The Economist

Before he quits, the 32-year-old is keen to bring success to his Ducati team and wants to extend his contract before it expires at the end of 2012.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He was a Labour councillor in the late 1980s before he quit the party.

Independent

The Israeli soldier's disquiet nagged for years before he quit.

The Economist

While Rob did think he was drinking too much before he quit, he never really feared becoming an alcoholic.

The New York Times

He could have quit, but it should have been a good experience before he quit.

The New York Times - Arts

It was perhaps the last work he finished before he quit composing, and he suppressed it throughout his life.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before he quits" to clearly establish a deadline or condition that must be met before someone leaves their current position. This is useful in project management, succession planning, or when setting expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "before he quits" when a temporary leave is intended. This phrase typically implies a permanent departure from a role or organization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before he quits" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb of time, modifying a verb or clause. It establishes a timeframe for an action or event to occur prior to the subject's resignation, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before he quits" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to specify that something happens prior to a person's departure from a job or position. While its usage is considered neutral and leaning slightly towards informal, it's commonly found in news and media contexts. For more formal settings, alternatives like "prior to his departure" may be more suitable. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is frequently used to highlight timing and sequence of events, thus the goal is always of making a soft transit. When using this phrase, make sure the action is performed before a permanent departure as indicated in the writing guide.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to his departure

Replaces the verb "quits" with the noun "departure", lending a more formal tone.

ahead of his resignation

Uses "resignation" instead of "quits", and "ahead of" specifies the timing relative to the event.

prior to his stepping down

Uses the phrasal verb "stepping down" which suggests a formal or voluntary departure.

prior to him leaving the post

More formal and specific, referring to the act of leaving a position.

leading up to his leaving

Focuses on the period before the act of leaving, rather than the moment of quitting itself.

until he resigns

Focuses on the period up to the point of resignation, setting a clear temporal boundary.

in anticipation of his exit

Highlights the expectation of the departure, framing it as something foreseen.

in the time preceding his exit

Emphasizes the duration before his departure.

before his term ends

Implies a fixed term or period, changing the focus from a personal decision to a scheduled conclusion.

before his retirement

Specifically indicates retirement, which is a particular kind of quitting, generally related to age.

FAQs

What does "before he quits" mean?

The phrase "before he quits" means in the period of time leading up to someone's resignation or permanent departure from a job or position.

What can I say instead of "before he quits"?

You can use alternatives like "prior to his departure", "ahead of his resignation", or "leading up to his leaving" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "before he quits" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "before he quits" is more informal. For formal writing, consider using phrases like "prior to his resignation" or "in advance of his departure".

What's the difference between "before he quits" and "after he quits"?

"Before he quits" refers to actions or events that happen leading up to someone's departure, while "after he quits" refers to actions or events that happen following their departure. They represent opposite temporal relationships.