go on leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "go on leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone should continue to leave or to express the ongoing action of leaving. Example: "Despite the rain, I will go on leaving the party early to catch my train."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I think they will go on leaving, whether to England or somewhere else, if the situation doesn't change soon".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mendel... the list goes on, leaving one to wonder: Is it acceptable to match dress and bijoux?

The New York Times

I had moms posting on Facebook "What's going on," leaving the pool because they didn't feel safe.

Huffington Post

"None of the players know what's going on," left tackle Jumbo Elliott said yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

A controversial chief election commissioner has gone "on leave", only for another divisive figure to stand in.

The Economist

The hospital spokeswoman said Kim was a U.S. postal employee at the time of her pregnancy and went on leave as her condition progressed.

Los Angeles Times

You describe how most of the top officers went on leave after the indictments.

The New Yorker

"I am going on leave forthwith".

The Guardian - Sport

I have an idea about alternative culture: if there's something interesting going on, leave it alone.

The Guardian - Music

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Vice

All these countries have seen gigantic increases in the share of fathers who go on leave.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go on leaving" to emphasize the continuous nature of someone's departure, especially when highlighting a trend or pattern.

Common error

Avoid using "go on leaving" in highly formal writing; consider more direct and concise alternatives like "continue to depart" or "keep leaving" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go on leaving" functions as a gerund phrase, where "leaving" acts as a noun, describing the ongoing action. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a grammatically correct construction. It emphasizes the continuous nature of the departure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "go on leaving" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig, that describes an ongoing act of departing. Its primary function is to highlight a continuing trend or pattern of people leaving a certain place or situation. While the phrase appears mostly in news and media contexts, it is relatively rare. For more formal situations, consider using alternatives like "continue to depart". Overall, "go on leaving" effectively conveys the sense of a persistent departure, suitable for describing ongoing social or geographical movements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue departing

Replaces "go on" with "continue", maintaining the sense of ongoing departure.

keep departing

Substitutes "go on" with "keep", emphasizing the repetitive aspect of leaving.

persist in leaving

Uses "persist" to highlight a determined continuation of the act of leaving.

remain in the process of leaving

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the ongoing nature of the leaving process.

carry on departing

Replaces "go on" with "carry on", keeping the emphasis on the continuation of the action.

proceed with departure

Formalizes the phrase, focusing on the act of departure being carried out.

sustain departure

Highlights the maintenance or upholding of the act of leaving.

extend their leaving

Shifts the focus to prolonging the state of leaving, rather than just continuing the action.

prolong departure

Focuses on making the act of leaving last longer.

keep vacating

Replaces departing with vacating to stress the action of emptying the space.

FAQs

How can I use "go on leaving" in a sentence?

You can use "go on leaving" to describe a continuous action of departing. For example, "Despite the challenges, they will go on leaving the city in search of better opportunities".

What are some alternatives to "go on leaving"?

Alternatives include "continue departing", "keep leaving", or "persist in leaving". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "go on leaving" formal or informal?

"Go on leaving" leans towards a neutral to slightly informal register. In highly formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "continue to depart" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "go on leaving" and "continue to leave"?

While similar, "go on leaving" emphasizes the ongoing process of departure, whereas "continue to leave" is a more direct statement of continuing the act of leaving. The former can subtly imply a persistent or even problematic trend.