before leaving for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before leaving for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time or action that occurs prior to departing for a specific destination or event. Example: "Make sure to pack your bags before leaving for the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Before leaving for Geneva she resigned all her offices here.

The New Yorker

Mr. Margolis became ITT's treasurer before leaving for Colt.

The New York Times

Multi-agency security check before leaving for the United States.

The New York Times

Before leaving for Marfa, Sacks had separated from his wife.

The New Yorker

"He dropped by briefly before leaving for Bergen".

The New Yorker

I had phoned Terence shortly before leaving for Shropshire.

The Guardian

After exams, ROTC students performed a variety of tasks before leaving for Officer Candidate School (OCS).

Princeton University

We spent a week in homestays in Munsiyari, before leaving for Kausani, another town further south.

Princeton University

Before leaving for Idaho, Shipman had begun purchasing a zoo located in Azusa, California.

Columbia University

"before leaving for active duty induction at Ft. Niagara," May 1943.

Cornell University

Smith taught at Princeton from 1980-89 before leaving for the University of California, Los Angeles.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember to specify the destination after the phrase. Vague usage can confuse the reader. Make it clear where someone is heading: "Before leaving for the meeting, review the agenda".

Common error

Ensure that the subject performing the action of leaving is clear. Avoid sentences where it's unclear who is "leaving for" the destination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before leaving for" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the timing of an action in relation to a departure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before leaving for" is a grammatically sound and common way to indicate an action that occurs prior to departing for a destination. Ludwig AI confirms it's usability. It's widely used across various contexts including news, academia and wikis. When using this phrase, make sure to specify the destination and ensure the timing of actions are clear. Consider alternative phrases like "prior to departing for" for a more formal tone. Avoid ambiguous pronoun references to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to departing for

Uses a more formal vocabulary to convey the same meaning.

ahead of traveling to

Replaces "leaving" with "traveling", focusing on the travel aspect.

just before heading to

More casual phrasing using "heading to" instead of "leaving for".

in anticipation of going to

Emphasizes the expectation of the trip.

right before setting off to

Uses the idiomatic expression "setting off" for departing.

in preparation for travelling to

Highlights the preparatory actions done before the travel.

on the verge of travelling towards

A more descriptive phrase to describe imminent travelling.

leading up to departure to

Focuses on the period of time before leaving.

immediately preceding travel to

Emphasizes the temporal proximity to the travel.

earlier than departing for

Highlights relative timing.

FAQs

How can I use "before leaving for" in a sentence?

The phrase "before leaving for" is used to indicate an action taken in preparation for or preceding a departure to a specific destination. For example: "Make sure to pack your passport "before leaving for" Italy."

What are some alternatives to "before leaving for"?

You can use alternatives such as "prior to departing for", "ahead of traveling to", or "just before heading to" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "before to leave for" instead of "before leaving for"?

No, "before to leave for" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "before leaving for", using the gerund form of the verb.

What's the difference between "before leaving for" and "after arriving at"?

The phrase "before leaving for" refers to actions taken prior to departure, while "after arriving at" refers to actions taken following arrival. They represent opposite points in time relative to a journey.