during his truancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during his truancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the time period when someone is absent from school without permission. Example: "During his truancy, he spent his days wandering the city instead of attending classes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I missed Stark during his truancy.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

His truancy became so exhaustive that at one point the police threatened involvement.

The Guardian - Music

Nabokov knows he is crossing boundaries of good taste but he exults in his truancy from convention anyway.

The Guardian - Books

The school was ostensibly for wayward boys - Moore apparently pulled pranks specifically to get in to the school and Drummond enrolled as his mother could "no longer tolerate his truancy".

Independent

"In the mornings, I sleep," he says, attempting to justify his truancy from school.

Unicef

His community service continued during his retirement.

The New York Times

Al Sharpton, during his hunger strike over….

The New Yorker

George W. Bush launched two wars during his tenure.

The New York Times

Trade and commerce flourished during his reign.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The town had changed during his absence.

The New York Times

"We enjoyed such respect during his reign.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during his truancy", ensure the context clearly establishes who 'his' refers to and that 'truancy' is understood by your audience. For broader audiences, consider more common terms like 'skipping school'.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "during his truancy" solely implies a brief absence. Truancy can span days, weeks, or even longer. Be specific about the timeframe if precision is necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during his truancy" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate when something occurred. It specifies the timeframe in which an action or state took place, centering around the period when an individual was absent from school without permission. Ludwig provides examples to support its usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "during his truancy" is a grammatically correct, but relatively uncommon, prepositional phrase used to specify a timeframe of unapproved absence, typically from school. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides examples from reputable sources. While acceptable, consider the context and audience, opting for simpler or more formal alternatives as needed. The phrase carries a neutral tone, although the term "truancy" can introduce a formal feel. Remember that "truancy" specifically indicates unexcused absence, distinguishing it from general absence. Use clear contextual cues to define 'his' and maintain precision when specifying the timeframe. Finally, while infrequent, "during his truancy" is a valid way to express events happening during someone's unapproved absence from school.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while he was truant

Changes the prepositional phrase to a subordinate clause with similar meaning.

during the period of his truancy

Adds emphasis on the specific timeframe of the truancy.

during his time skipping school

Replaces "truancy" with a more informal expression, "skipping school".

while he was absent from school

Offers a more neutral and less judgmental way of describing the truancy.

during his unauthorized absences

Substitutes "truancy" with a more formal and descriptive term.

in his truancy

Uses a more concise preposition, but slightly alters the nuance.

throughout his truancy

Emphasizes the duration of the truancy as a continuous period.

during the days he skipped school

More explicitly details the activity.

while playing truant

Emphasizes the action of playing truant.

while he was AWOL from school

Uses military slang (AWOL - absent without leave) for a more figurative, less literal meaning, adding a layer of informality and potential severity to the context.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "during his truancy" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use "during his unauthorized absences" or "during the period of his truancy". The term "unauthorized absences" avoids the potentially judgmental tone of "truancy".

What's a simpler way to say "during his truancy"?

A simpler alternative is "while he was skipping school". This phrasing uses more common language and is easily understood. Also consider using "while he was absent", which is more neutral.

Is it correct to say "during his truancy"?

Yes, "during his truancy" is grammatically correct and understandable. However, its frequency is relatively low, so consider your audience and context. Ludwig /s/supports+this+claim and provides examples from reputable sources.

What's the difference between "during his absence" and "during his truancy"?

"During his absence" is a general term for being away, while "during his truancy" specifically refers to being away from school without permission. "Absence" can be excused, but truancy is always unexcused.