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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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born off

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "born off" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a misunderstanding or misphrasing, as "born" typically pairs with "of" or "to" rather than "off." Example: "She was born of humble beginnings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Harry Potter turned 35 earlier this year on the same day as Rowling's birthday, making him a relatively young father by today's standards to be waving his eldest born off to secondary school.

News & Media

Independent

As part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the band, brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have released a new single and music video for the track "I Was Born" off their upcoming greatest hits album, "Middle of Everywhere".

News & Media

Huffington Post

I was born off Oxford Street and grew up in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Obviously, if we're debating the serious issue of allegations about cronyism at FEMA, a friend is a friend whether the relationship was born off campus or on.

News & Media

The New York Times

Knocking A Star Is Born off the top of the UK box office after two weeks, Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody debuted with a commanding £6.48m (£9.53m including takings last Wednesday and Thursday).

It takes a minute before a visitor, alighted from his parked Hertz high on a shoulder of Slea Head, can figure out that distant silently arriving and waning sliver, and feel cheered by the thought that it's only the repeated crash and fall of Atlantic breakers, perhaps first born off Montauk, three thousand miles away--a wave from home.

News & Media

The New Yorker
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In 2115, he writes, a cohort will come of age "who were born off-Earth and who have never been home".

News & Media

The New Yorker

"If the neutron star was born off-center and if the wake is being pushed around by cross-winds, the neutron star should be moving close to vertically, away from the center of the supernova remnant.

We can imagine the first baby born off-Earth, a transition as profound as our leaving Africa 60,000 years ago.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Born of well-off Jewish parents in Berlin, her father an intellectual and an art collector, she became interested in photography early on and was given a Leica.

So the idea of depreciation was born – writing off capital investments over time.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "born off" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "born of" or "born from" to clearly indicate origin or parentage.

Common error

Be cautious not to confuse "off" with "of" when describing origins. "Off" typically indicates separation or removal, making it inappropriate for expressing something's source. Use "of" to correctly show origin or parentage.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "born off" is generally incorrect grammatically. It's intended to convey origin or creation, but the correct preposition to use is "of" or "from". As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is a misunderstanding or misphrasing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

27%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "born off" appears in some contexts, it's grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI explains, "born" typically pairs with "of" or "to" to indicate origin or inherent qualities. The phrase "born off" is more common in News & Media contexts but remains a questionable usage across all registers. It's best to use alternatives like ""born of"" or other similar expressions to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say where someone or something comes from, instead of "born off"?

Use "born of" or "born to" instead of "born off". For example, "He was "born of" noble parents" or "She was "born to" be a leader" are grammatically correct.

When is it appropriate to use "off" after "born"?

The phrase "born off" is generally considered incorrect. It's better to use "born of" or other alternatives to indicate origin. While technically you can use "born" and "off" in the same sentence, they would not be grammatically connected. E.g. "The baby was born, and then she went off to work".

What can I say instead of "born off"?

You can use alternatives like ""born of"", "stemmed from", or "originated in" depending on the context.

How does the meaning change when using "born of" versus "born to"?

"Born of" typically refers to the origin or parentage, such as ""born of" humble beginnings". "Born to", on the other hand, often implies destiny or inherent qualities, like ""born to" lead".

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: