during your absence

USAGE SUMMARY

'during your absence' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a period of time when someone is not present. For example: "We made some changes to the project during your absence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It must be strange making a comeback after so long, re-entering a musical landscape that has changed so radically during your absence.

The Guardian - Music

This simple trick will let you know if you lost power during your absence and can help you determine the safety of the contents in your fridge and freezer.

Huffington Post

There are several methods of feeding fish during your absence.

WikiHow

A substance could been added to your beverage during your absence, so get another drink.

WikiHow

Call in absences and secure a stand in during your absence.

WikiHow

Also you can go to teachers and ask about what they were doing during your absence.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He got in late one evening and found a message waiting for him, written out on a blank headed "The following message was received during your brief absence".

The New Yorker

You can give the child something like a handkerchief and tell your child to take care of it in your absence during school hours.

WikiHow

But if you purchase a vacation home or a part-year residence, then you have to consider how the property will fare during your long absences.

Huffington Post

She was appreciated anew during her absence.

The New York Times - Arts

The town had changed during his absence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during your absence", ensure the context clearly indicates whose absence is being referred to, especially if the sentence could be ambiguous.

Common error

Avoid assuming the reader knows the specific timeframe or reasons for the "absence". Provide context if it's not immediately obvious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during your absence" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by indicating the time period when someone is not present. It provides temporal context to the action or state being described, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

28%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "during your absence" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase for indicating a time period when someone is away. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, ranging from formal to informal. While not extremely common, it is frequently found in news articles and how-to guides. When employing this phrase, it's important to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "while you were away" or "in your absence" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while you were away

This alternative directly replaces the prepositional phrase with a more common adverbial clause.

in your absence

Uses a different preposition but maintains a similar level of formality and meaning.

during the time you were not there

Expands the phrase to be more explicit about the period of absence.

while you've been gone

Emphasizes the duration of the absence with a present perfect construction.

during your leave

Substitutes "absence" with "leave", implying a sanctioned or approved period away.

in your stead

Focuses on who or what acted in place of the absent person.

during the period of your absence

Adds formality by specifying 'period'.

while you were out

An informal alternative, more suitable for casual conversation.

in your temporary absence

Highlights the temporary nature of the absence.

when you were not present

A more formal and direct way of stating the absence.

FAQs

How can I use "during your absence" in a sentence?

You can use "during your absence" to describe events or changes that occurred while someone was away. For example, "Several important decisions were made "during your absence"."

What's a more formal alternative to "during your absence"?

A more formal alternative would be "in your absence" or "during the period of your absence". These options add a level of professional distance to the statement.

What can I say instead of "during your absence" in casual conversation?

In a casual context, you could say "while you were away" or "while you've been gone". These phrases are less formal and more conversational.

Is "in your absence" or "during your absence" more correct?

Both "in your absence" and ""during your absence"" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably, although "in your absence" might sound slightly more formal.