for having left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for having left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a reason or justification for someone having departed or exited a situation. Example: "She was criticized for having left the meeting early without any explanation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

We were beginning to forget our reasons for having left Australia.

The New York Times - Magazine

Martina Navratilova, 2009 My mother and sister for having left them when I defected.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Kevin Walsh said: "I feel guilty for having left her all those years ago.

The Guardian

We walked to a side door and he apologized for having left me sitting in the cold.

The New Yorker

Lita is the new girl, the outsider, and she suffers guilt for having left her Colombian-American family behind.

The New York Times - Books

Ghosts must be banished, in order to get rid of their aggression toward the living and our aggression toward them for having left us.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Those colleagues who have reasoned that their redundancy pay won't be worth hanging around for have left already.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Afzalzadeh no longer works for Fars, having left in April.

The New York Times

Her contempt for it, and then for him, had left him feeling baffled and betrayed.

The New Yorker

In Britain, the big increases earmarked for health have left little room for many other public spending programmes.

The Economist

The hunt for antiquities has left a trail of destruction.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for having left" to clearly indicate the reason or cause related to someone's departure. Ensure the context provides clarity on who left and what the consequences are.

Common error

Avoid using "for leaving" when the intended meaning requires emphasizing that the action of leaving is completed and has a direct impact on the current situation. "For having left" highlights the completed action, whereas "for leaving" may imply an ongoing action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for having left" typically functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the reason or cause for a particular action or state. It describes the reason for blame, guilt, regret, or other emotions connected to someone's departure, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for having left" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, to indicate the reason or justification behind someone's departure. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to explain consequences or emotional responses tied to the act of leaving. While versatile, it is crucial to use it when you want to emphasize the completed nature of the departure and its impact. Alternatives such as "because of leaving" or "due to leaving" offer simpler options, but the choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

because of leaving

Replaces the perfect gerund with a simpler gerund phrase using "because of".

because they had departed

Changes the structure to a past perfect clause introduced by "because".

due to the act of leaving

Uses a more formal and explicit construction to indicate the reason for something.

given their exit

Uses a concise structure with "given" to introduce the reason.

on account of their departure

Employs a formal tone and uses "departure" instead of "leaving".

as a consequence of exiting

Uses "exiting" as a synonym for "leaving" and emphasizes the result.

owing to the fact that they left

Replaces the gerund phrase with a clause introduced by "owing to the fact that".

considering they are gone

Expresses the reason based on their current state of being gone.

resulting from their abandonment

Emphasizes the act of leaving as an abandonment.

in light of their having gone

A formal alternative, emphasizing the completed action of leaving.

FAQs

How can I use "for having left" in a sentence?

You can use "for having left" to explain the reason behind a consequence or feeling related to someone's departure. For example, "He was criticized "for having left" the company during a critical project phase."

What are some alternatives to "for having left"?

Some alternatives include "because of leaving", "due to leaving", or "owing to leaving", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "for having left" formal or informal?

"For having left" is generally considered neutral to formal. Simpler alternatives like "because of leaving" might be more appropriate for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "for leaving" and "for having left"?

"For leaving" generally refers to the act of departure itself, while "for having left" implies a completed action that has resulted in a consequence. The latter emphasizes the completed nature of the departure and its impact.