derail from

USAGE SUMMARY

"derail from" is not correct and usable in written English.
The correct phrase would be "derail from [something]," as in "The train derailed from its tracks."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Nobody could have predicted how spectacularly Nsereko's career would derail from this point forward.

The Guardian - Sport

If the player continually attempts to derail from the linear tracks, how else can a story be told?

The Guardian - Tech

"Key to overseas expansion is focus," says Lewis. "You may have lots of ideas but it's important to focus on what you know will work and not derail from your vision".

The Guardian

The combination of playful eroticism and pure innocence in the works does derail from the usual family portrait.

Huffington Post

Using orientalist tropes against Muslim women allows politicians to derail from policies – both domestic and foreign – that do harm Muslim women.

Vice

"I think Phaedra, in a perfect world, should be supportive as a wife should be...But if she chooses to derail from the plan, then that's what she chooses to do," he said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He was derailed from a possible classical career by the arrival of Elvis Presley.

The Guardian - Music

Last January, when a tanker car carrying 30,000 gallons of propane derailed from railroad tracks in Maspeth, patrol members directed traffic away from the accident.

The New York Times

Fish-fanciers and bok choy addicts from Brooklyn need not be completely derailed from their direct B-train trip to shopping heaven in Chinatown (Tunnel Vision column, June 19).

The New York Times

Aides believe allowing in cameras would show he was not being derailed from carrying on business as usual by the scandal.

The Guardian

Alas, I was derailed from my retro reverie by an unmistakable train theme, with faded railroad photos on the wall, and a burger named The Locomotive ($3.84).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "derail" with a direct object, indicating what is being derailed (e.g., "The scandal derailed his career"). To express being derailed from something, rephrase using alternatives like "diverted from" or "prevented from".

Common error

Avoid using "derail from" directly. Instead, clarify what is being derailed and, if necessary, use a different preposition to indicate the original course (e.g., "His efforts were diverted from the main goal").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "derail from" is grammatically questionable. The verb "derail" typically requires a direct object, indicating what is being derailed. While examples exist, they are often better phrased using alternatives. Ludwig AI flags "derail from" as incorrect and suggests using related phrases instead.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "derail from" presents a grammatical challenge. While it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media, it is often considered incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the verb "derail" typically requires a direct object, indicating what is being derailed, rather than using the preposition "from" directly after it. Therefore, it is advisable to rephrase using alternatives like "divert from", "deviate from", or simply stating that something was "derailed" without the "from". This ensures clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divert from

Emphasizes a change in direction or focus.

deviate from

Highlights a departure from an established course or standard.

stray from

Suggests wandering or drifting away from a path.

swerve from

Implies a sudden change in direction to avoid something.

turn aside from

Indicates a deliberate decision to move away from something.

distract from

Focuses on drawing attention away from something.

sidetrack from

Emphasizes being led onto a different, often less important, path.

obstruct from

Highlights the action of blocking progress.

hinder from

Suggests slowing down or impeding progress.

prevent from

Emphasizes stopping something from happening.

FAQs

How to properly use "derail" in a sentence?

The verb "derail" requires a direct object, indicating what is being derailed. For example: "The scandal derailed his campaign". To express the idea of being diverted from something, consider using alternative phrases.

What can I say instead of "derail from"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you can use alternatives such as "divert from", "deviate from", or "prevent from".

Which is correct, "derail from" or "be derailed from"?

"Derail from" is grammatically incorrect. "Be derailed from" is also not the standard construction. It's better to say that something or someone was derailed or diverted from something.

What's the difference between "derail" and "divert"?

"Derail" implies a sudden and disruptive departure from a planned course, often with negative consequences. "Divert" suggests a planned or necessary change in direction. For example: "The accident derailed the train" versus "Traffic was diverted due to roadwork".