before leaving home

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before leaving home" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate actions or considerations that should take place prior to departing from one's residence. Example: "Make sure to double-check your keys and wallet before leaving home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Americans must buy them before leaving home.

The New York Times - Travel

It helps to weigh your bag before leaving home.

The New York Times - Travel

We'd had meatloaf sandwiches right before leaving home.

The New Yorker

He also suggested researching your insurance coverage before leaving home.

The New York Times - Travel

And always it's the last chance: before graduation, before leaving home, before everybody grows up.

The New York Times

Before leaving home, Steinmetz had borrowed a cheapo Konica camera from his brother.

The New Yorker

Before leaving home, all the congress registrants were strongly advised not to walk or jog anywhere.

The New York Times

It helps to learn your bank's emergency policies before leaving home.

The New York Times - Travel

Unfortunately I had spilt a jar of pickled beetroot over them just before leaving home.

The Guardian - Arts

Before leaving home, he hadn't even known how to prepare a meal.

The New Yorker

It is best to apply for a visa, valid for three months, before leaving home.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions or giving advice, use "before leaving home" to clearly specify actions that should be completed at the place of residence before starting a journey or activity.

Common error

Avoid using "before leaving home" when you actually mean "before arriving at your destination". Ensure the action genuinely occurs at the home location.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before leaving home" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It typically modifies a verb, indicating the timing or condition under which an action should be performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

23%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before leaving home" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify actions or considerations that should occur prior to departing from one's residence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It's versatile, fitting into both formal and informal contexts, with high prevalence in News & Media, Science and Wiki sources. When using the phrase, ensure the specified actions genuinely occur at the home location. For alternatives, consider "prior to departing from home" or "before going out" to add variety to your writing. Remember to consider the timing of the actions you're describing, and use "before leaving home" when the action needs to happen at the point of origin rather than the destination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before going out

Simple and direct synonym.

prior to departing from home

Formal alternative, emphasizing the act of departure.

before setting off from the house

Emphasizes starting a journey or outing.

prior to your departure

Formal and emphasizes the departure event.

before heading out of the residence

More formal and specific to a dwelling.

before one's departure

Formal, using a possessive pronoun.

in preparation for leaving home

Focuses on the preparatory aspect.

in anticipation of leaving

Focuses on the anticipation of departure.

on the verge of leaving home

Highlights the moment just before departure.

just before stepping out

Informal and focuses on the physical action of leaving.

FAQs

What does "before leaving home" mean?

The phrase "before leaving home" indicates actions, preparations, or considerations that should occur prior to departing from one's residence. It sets a temporal boundary for activities completed at home before starting a journey or activity elsewhere.

What can I say instead of "before leaving home"?

You can use alternatives like "prior to departing from home", "before going out", or "before setting off from the house" depending on the context.

Is it necessary to specify 'from home' after 'leaving'?

While "before leaving" is often sufficient, adding "home" clarifies that the actions should be completed at your residence, especially when the context might be ambiguous. The phrase "before leaving home" adds precision.

How do I use "before leaving home" in a sentence?

You can use "before leaving home" to specify when an action should be taken, for example: "Make sure to check the weather "before leaving home"" or "Before leaving home, I always double-check that I have my keys."