before setting off for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before setting off for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate actions or preparations that take place prior to departing for a specific destination. Example: "Before setting off for the mountains, we made sure to pack all the necessary supplies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

* The golden gap year is like the gap year that graduating students take before setting off for college or to join the work world, only for new retirees it's a year of glorious travel before they settle into their retirement.

Huffington Post

Before setting off for Libya, Dornstein sat his children down for dinner.

The New Yorker

"Every day before setting off for work, I give my three children a big hug.

Independent

"We're doing as well as anybody," Mr. Santorum said before setting off for rallies in Oklahoma.

The New York Times

Just before setting off for Glastonbury is definitely one of those times.

The Guardian - Music

The ship was then disinfected before setting off for the UK.

The Guardian

(I saw and heard them at breakfast), before setting off for the Theresienwiese, if indeed they ever went there.

The New Yorker

Olivier decided to play the part for a few performances at the Old Vic before setting off for Canada.

The Guardian

Not that they will be there for long before setting off for the World T20 in India.

The Guardian - Sport

She was just back from America last week then 'doing Europe' before setting off for Australia and New Zealand.

The Guardian - Books

He returned home for five months before setting off for Japan, China, and Europe with the two daughters of an old political friend.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before setting off for" to clearly indicate actions taken immediately preceding a journey or departure. For example, "Before setting off for the airport, double-check your passport and tickets."

Common error

Avoid using "before setting off for" when describing actions that are not directly related to the immediate preparation for departure. For instance, don't say "Before setting off for work, I renovated my house" if the renovation was completed weeks earlier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before setting off for" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the time prior to a journey or departure. It introduces a clause that specifies an action or state preceding the act of beginning a trip to a specific location. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is grammatically correct and common in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

20%

Books

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before setting off for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase used to denote actions or preparations occurring immediately before a journey or departure. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted and used in diverse contexts, including news, travel writing, and literature. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for various audiences, it's essential to use it accurately to describe actions directly related to preparing for a specific trip. Alternatives like "prior to departing for" or "before leaving for" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to departing for

Replaces "before setting off" with a more formal phrase, focusing on the act of departure.

in preparation for leaving for

Emphasizes the preparatory actions taken before the act of leaving.

leading up to departure for

Highlights the time leading up to the moment of departure.

ahead of traveling to

Highlights the travel aspect and uses a different prepositional structure.

just before leaving to go to

A more verbose alternative that stresses the immediacy of the departure.

preparatory to going to

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of expressing preparation for travel.

in advance of their trip to

Emphasizes acting in advance, replacing 'setting off' with 'trip'.

in anticipation of journeying to

Focuses on the anticipation of the journey rather than the immediate preparation.

with a view to departing for

Highlights the intention or purpose behind the preparations.

on the eve of departure to

Suggests a time very close to the departure, like the night before.

FAQs

How can I use "before setting off for" in a sentence?

The phrase "before setting off for" is used to describe actions or preparations made just before starting a journey. For example, "Before setting off for the beach, we packed sunscreen and towels."

What are some alternatives to "before setting off for"?

You can use alternatives like "prior to departing for", "before leaving for", or "in preparation for traveling to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "before setting off to" instead of "before setting off for"?

The correct preposition to use after "setting off" when indicating a destination is "for". Therefore, "before setting off for" is the correct form.

What is the difference between "before setting off for" and "after arriving at"?

"Before setting off for" describes actions taken prior to starting a journey, while "after arriving at" describes actions taken once you have reached your destination. They represent opposite points in time related to travel.