drop out of school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop out of school" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to someone choosing to cease their studies at a school or university before completing their studies or degree. For example: "After repeated failures in his classes, Bob decided to drop out of school and pursue a different career path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some may even drop out of school.

BBC

And don't really drop out of school.

TechCrunch

More girls than boys drop out of school.

Unicef

Kids drop out of school.

The New Yorker

About 70 percent drop out of school.

The New York Times

"She will never, never drop out of school.

The New York Times

Their children are more likely to drop out of school.

The Economist

A pregnant girl will drop out of school.

The Economist

Plentiful unskilled jobs encouraged youths to drop out of school.

The Economist

"They drop out of school, never work, are killed.

The New York Times

Three-quarters of Somali children drop out of school.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing educational attainment or describing someone's academic history, use "drop out of school" clearly indicates that an individual did not complete their education at a particular institution.

Common error

Avoid using "drop out of school" when the individual is only taking a temporary leave of absence or planning to return later. Use phrases like "taking a break from school" or "on leave" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop out of school" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of ceasing to attend school before graduating. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to describe individuals discontinuing their education.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "drop out of school" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe someone leaving school before graduating. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use across various domains, including news, business, and science. The Ludwig AI confirms that it is a well-understood phrase. When writing, it's important to differentiate between temporarily leaving school and permanently discontinuing studies, ensuring accurate and clear communication. Related alternatives include "leave school prematurely", "withdraw from school" and "quit school".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave school prematurely

Focuses on the timing of leaving school, highlighting that it's before completion.

withdraw from school

Emphasizes the act of formally removing oneself from the educational institution.

quit school

A more informal way to say "drop out", suggesting a less formal or planned departure.

discontinue studies

Highlights the cessation of academic pursuits.

terminate education

Focuses on the ending of one's educational journey.

abandon schooling

Implies a complete and possibly unplanned end to one's education.

cease attending school

Directly states that the person stopped going to school.

end formal education

Emphasizes the end of structured learning.

opt out of school

Suggests a conscious decision to choose an alternative to schooling.

take a break from school

Implies a temporary cessation of studies, rather than a permanent departure.

FAQs

What does it mean to "drop out of school"?

To "drop out of school" means to leave an educational institution, such as high school or college, before completing the required course of study and graduating.

What are some alternatives to saying "drop out of school"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "leave school prematurely", "withdraw from school", or "quit school".

Is it grammatically correct to say "drop out of school"?

Yes, "drop out of school" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English.

What factors might cause someone to "drop out of school"?

There are various reasons why someone might "drop out of school", including financial difficulties, academic struggles, personal issues, or a desire to pursue alternative opportunities.