dropping out of

USAGE SUMMARY

"dropping out of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone leaving or quitting a course of study or a program. Example: After struggling to balance her part-time job and full course load, Sarah ended up dropping out of college in her second year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By dropping out of the work force.

The New York Times

Dropping out of school.

The Guardian

Dropping out of graduate school.

The Guardian

"I'm dropping out of university now.

The Guardian

Dropping out of school: not your fault.

The Guardian

I'm just dropping out of this scene.

The New Yorker

But dropping out of touch is still possible.

The New Yorker

"I'm considering dropping out of everything," she said.

The New York Times

Bill Gates did nicely after dropping out of Harvard.

The New York Times - Books

She also ended up dropping out of law school.

The New York Times - Food

He worked at several jobs after dropping out of college.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. "Dropping out of" can carry a negative connotation, so choose a more neutral phrase like "withdrawing from" if appropriate.

Common error

The phrase "dropping out" can be vague. Ensure clarity by specifying what is being abandoned, such as "dropping out of the race" or "dropping out of the study", to avoid misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dropping out of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the act of ceasing participation or involvement in something. Ludwig AI shows that it's used to specify the area from which someone is withdrawing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dropping out of" is a common and generally acceptable way to describe ceasing involvement in something, according to Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, clarity and context are important. Specify what is being left to avoid ambiguity and consider the connotations, as it can imply incompletion or failure. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "withdrawing from". This phrase appears frequently in news, scientific and business contexts. Its function is mainly to inform or declare an intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withdrawing from

Focuses on the act of formally removing oneself from something, such as a class or program.

leaving

A more general term indicating departure from a situation or institution.

abandoning

Emphasizes a sense of leaving something behind, often with a negative connotation.

quitting

Suggests a more decisive and sometimes abrupt cessation of involvement.

ceasing participation in

A formal way of describing the end of one's involvement.

discontinuing

Implies that something is not being continued anymore, whether by choice or circumstance.

opting out of

Highlights the element of choice in deciding not to participate.

bowing out of

Suggests a graceful or planned exit.

exiting

A formal and less common synonym of leaving, sometimes implying a planned departure.

relinquishing

Focuses on giving up something, like a position or role.

FAQs

How is "dropping out of" typically used in a sentence?

"Dropping out of" is usually followed by the activity or group one is leaving. For example, "He is considering "dropping out of school"" or "She is "dropping out of the competition"".

What are some alternatives to "dropping out of"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "withdrawing from", "leaving", or "quitting" as alternatives to "dropping out of".

Is "dropping out of" formal or informal?

"Dropping out of" is generally considered a neutral to informal phrase. In more formal contexts, consider using "withdrawing from" or "ceasing participation in".

What implications does "dropping out of" carry?

"Dropping out of" often implies a sense of incompletion or abandonment. It can suggest that someone is unable or unwilling to continue with something, so consider the connotations when choosing this phrase.