before sailing home

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before sailing home" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action or event that occurs prior to returning home by boat or ship. Example: "We decided to explore the island before sailing home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Just before sailing home from Italy, the Engels visit Palermo.

The New Yorker

There, Max leads the creatures in a frenzied rumpus before sailing home, anger spent, to find his supper waiting.

The New York Times - Books

The New Yorker, October 17 , 1959P. 201 Just before sailing home from Italy, the Engels visit Palermo.

The New Yorker

One was set for April 19 , 1960for which contestants were to… Just before sailing home from Italy, the Engels visit Palermo.

The New Yorker

By Patricia Collinge The New Yorker, October 17 , 1959P. 201 Just before sailing home from Italy, the Engels visit Palermo.

The New Yorker

The Londoner boxed an excellent tactical fight, yet courted too much danger in the 11th, allowing Prescott to connect with a couple of left hands, but Mitchell responded with a right uppercut before sailing home.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Having dealt with the French naval threat, Rooke left as many men, guns and supplies at Gibraltar as he could before sailing for home.

Wikipedia

Over long sessions in the studio, he ate almost nothing, sailing home to Hauptstraße with Eno at dawn, breaking a raw egg into his mouth, and sleeping a few hours before returning to the studio.

The Guardian - Music

After just one rumpus, loneliness sets in, and he goes sailing home.

The New Yorker

An English plantation owner stops by for a farewell drink before he sails home, summoned by a dying father whom this coarse son ridicules and sneers at for having doubted he could succeed abroad.

The New York Times

Even after death, his ghost still thirsts for blood, and Polyxena, a Trojan princess, has to be sacrificed at his tomb before the Greeks can sail home from Troy.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of events, use "before sailing home" to clearly indicate the final activities prior to departure. For instance, "We visited the local market before sailing home."

Common error

Avoid using "before sailing home" when referring to extensive long-term preparations. It's more suitable for immediate actions preceding departure, not for events weeks or months in advance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before sailing home" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the timing of an action or event in relation to a return journey by sea. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It modifies a verb, adjective, or noun, specifying when something occurs relative to the act of sailing home, as seen in examples like "Just before sailing home from Italy, the Engels visit Palermo."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before sailing home" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to denote actions occurring prior to a sea voyage back home. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from diverse sources, mainly news and media. While not exceedingly common, it effectively establishes a temporal relationship, setting the stage for events preceding a return journey by ship. When using the phrase, remember it applies to actions close to departure and not long-term preparations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to sailing back

Replaces "home" with "back", emphasizing the return aspect but keeping the nautical context.

just before the voyage back

Substitutes "sailing home" with a more generic "voyage back", focusing on the return trip.

before the return sea journey

Rephrases the entire concept, using more formal language to describe the return by sea.

ahead of the cruise back

Uses "cruise" instead of "sailing", implying a leisure trip, while maintaining the return aspect.

before the ship's return

Focuses on the ship as the subject, specifying its return journey.

in anticipation of sailing home

Shifts the focus to the anticipation of the return voyage.

leading up to sailing home

Emphasizes the events that occur in the period before starting the journey home.

on the eve of sailing home

Highlights activities done on the day or night before the return trip.

preparatory to sailing home

Uses more formal language, indicating actions taken to prepare for the return journey.

before embarking on the homeward sail

Replaces "sailing home" with a more descriptive phrase, focusing on the start of the homebound journey.

FAQs

How can I use "before sailing home" in a sentence?

Use "before sailing home" to describe actions or events that occur in the period immediately preceding a journey back home by boat or ship. For example, "They enjoyed a final sunset dinner before sailing home."

What's a good alternative to "before sailing home"?

Consider using "prior to sailing back" or "just before the voyage back" if you want to vary your phrasing while keeping a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "prior to sail home" instead of "before sailing home"?

While "prior to sail home" might be understood, it's not grammatically standard. "Before sailing home" is the more conventional and grammatically correct phrasing.

What's the difference between "before sailing home" and "after arriving home"?

"Before sailing home" refers to the period leading up to the departure on a sea journey back home, whereas "after arriving home" refers to events that happen once you have completed the journey and are back home.