day of passing

USAGE SUMMARY

"day of passing" is a valid phrase in written English.
It could be used to refer to the date of a person's death or some other momentous event. For example, "Today marks the 50th day of passing since our beloved leader passed away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Conor's father (Toby Kebbell) lives in Los Angeles and puts in a rare appearance, taking him to an amusement park for a day of passing pleasure that doesn't make a dent in Conor's crisis.

The New Yorker

Here's how.

Huffington Post

The most important one is the coincidence of the seventh day of passing of Ayatollah Montazeri with Ashura, which is the day of sorrow for the Shiites.

Huffington Post

In despair, they turned to the late Lubavitcher Rebbe -- whose 'Yahrzeit' and day of passing falls tonight and tomorrow -- and asked for a blessing for their son.

Huffington Post

His haftom (literally: seventh day of passing -- a significant date of mourning for Shiites) will fall exactly on the holy day of Ashura when Iranians are encouraged by the government to parade into the streets to recognize their fallen martyrs.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A Russian defense company worker was convicted Friday of passing missile secrets to foreign intelligence operatives in the latest espionage case amid a cold spell in Moscow's relations with Washington.

The New York Times

Ford came within half a day's sales of passing G.M. in total revenue in the first quarter.

The New York Times

Kentucky lawmakers overwhelmingly voted Tuesday in favor of passing a bill to criminalize performing a common abortion method after 11 weeks of pregnancy.

Vice

I asked the fans to remember John's birthday, not the day of his passing.

The New York Times

I recently read that he wrote "Sometimes It Snows In April"—about the his Under The Cherry Moon character dying in April —on April 21 , 1986 thirty years to the date of the day of his passing.

Huffington Post

Fifteen-year-old Demi, a British-Asian girl, does it every day as a means of passing the time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "day of passing" when referring to the anniversary or date of someone's death in a respectful or commemorative context.

Common error

Avoid using "day of passing" interchangeably with phrases like "passing day" or "day that passed", which refer to the simple progression of time, not a specific anniversary of death or a significant event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "day of passing" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to a specific date, typically the anniversary of someone's death or a significant event. Ludwig examples show it used in commemorative and reporting contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "day of passing" is a noun phrase that functions as a respectful way to refer to the anniversary or date of someone's death or a significant event. According to Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct and is most commonly used in news and media contexts. While it is not a very common phrase, it provides a formal and commemorative tone, suitable for obituaries, memorial articles, and other sensitive contexts. When aiming for clarity and respect, "day of passing" serves as a useful alternative to more direct terms like "date of death".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Date of death

This alternative directly refers to the specific calendar date on which someone died, lacking the euphemistic quality.

Anniversary of death

This alternative specifies that it is a yearly recurrence, focusing on remembrance.

Memorial day

This alternative emphasizes remembrance and can be associated with honoring the deceased.

Day of remembrance

This alternative highlights the act of remembering the deceased.

The day someone died

This alternative is a more direct and less formal way of stating the event.

Passing anniversary

This alternative emphasizes a yearly recurrence, focusing on remembrance, and it's less commonly used.

The day of demise

This alternative uses a more formal and somber term for death.

Day of passing away

This alternative incorporates a more gentle euphemism for death.

Date of passing

This alternative refers to the specific calendar date when someone passed away.

Day of departure

This alternative uses a metaphorical term suggesting a journey or leaving.

FAQs

How can I respectfully refer to the anniversary of someone's death?

You can use phrases like "day of passing", "anniversary of death", or "memorial day" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "day of passing" and "date of death"?

While both refer to when someone died, "day of passing" often carries a more euphemistic or commemorative tone, whereas "date of death" is a more direct, neutral term.

Is it appropriate to use "day of passing" in formal writing?

Yes, "day of passing" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when the context requires a respectful and commemorative tone, such as in obituaries or memorial articles.

Are there any alternatives to "day of passing" that I can use in casual conversation?

In casual conversation, you might use phrases like "the day someone died" or simply "when they passed", depending on the level of formality desired.