going on maternity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going on maternity" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "going on maternity leave," which is used when someone is taking time off work due to pregnancy and childbirth. Example: "She is going on maternity leave next month to prepare for the arrival of her baby."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Nevertheless, one member of a small team going on maternity or paternity leave can have a significant impact on a small firm.

The Guardian

Irina Dvorovenko, below, one of the principal dancers of American Ballet Theater, is going on maternity leave and will not perform for the rest of the season, the company said.

The New York Times

Women who are going on maternity leave will find it very useful.

Yale University

"We have a significant number of women going on maternity leave each year.

The New York Times

"Just because you're going on maternity leave, it doesn't mean you're not coming back and won't be motivated.

The Guardian

She also informs me that a friend will be going on maternity leave at the end of the week.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

"You have no idea what's going on in the maternity ward," Ms. Stein recalled her exclaiming.

The New York Times

"It was long days, but it did pay off in the end," she says: The volunteer work led to contract work, and she later stepped in for a curator who went on maternity leave.

Science Magazine

He succeeds Jennifer Lolli, who went on maternity leave.

The New York Times

She went on maternity leave for four months and then returned to Gibson Dunn until January 2011.

The New York Times

In 1991 Today coanchor Deborah Norville went on maternity leave, and Couric was named her substitute.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always specify "leave" after "maternity" to adhere to standard English. The complete phrase is "going on maternity leave".

Common error

Avoid saying just "going on maternity". It's grammatically incomplete. Always include "leave" to be clear and correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going on maternity" functions as an introductory phrase indicating the commencement of a period related to maternity. While technically incomplete, it often implies the start of maternity leave. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct expression is "going on maternity leave."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "going on maternity" is used, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct and complete phrase is "going on maternity leave". This term signifies the start of a period away from work due to pregnancy and childbirth. Although frequently found in news and media, using the full phrase ensures clarity and grammatical correctness. Remember to always specify "leave" for accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going on maternity leave

Adds the explicit term 'leave', specifying the period of absence.

commencing maternity leave

Replaces 'going on' with 'commencing', indicating the start of maternity leave.

starting maternity leave

Uses 'starting' in place of 'going on', denoting the beginning of the leave period.

taking maternity leave

Uses "taking" in place of "going on", which is more grammatically correct.

about to begin maternity leave

Emphasizes the imminence of the maternity leave.

beginning her maternity leave

Highlights the start of the leave specifically for a female subject.

preparing for maternity leave

Focuses on the preparations leading up to the leave.

set to start maternity leave

Indicates a planned and scheduled beginning of maternity leave.

proceeding on maternity leave

Uses 'proceeding' to indicate the formal action of starting maternity leave.

embarking on maternity leave

Suggests the start of maternity leave as the beginning of a new phase.

FAQs

Why is it better to say "going on maternity leave" instead of "going on maternity"?

The phrase "going on maternity leave" is the standard and grammatically complete way to express that someone is beginning their maternity leave. Omitting "leave" makes the phrase sound incomplete.

What does "going on maternity leave" mean?

It means that a person, typically a woman, is starting a period of absence from their job or professional activities due to pregnancy and impending childbirth.

Are there formal alternatives to "going on maternity leave"?

Yes, formal alternatives include "commencing maternity leave" or "beginning maternity leave". These are often used in official announcements or formal communications.

Is it incorrect to say "going on paternity"?

Similar to maternity, it's more correct to say "going on paternity leave" when referring to a father taking time off work for the birth or adoption of a child. Just saying "going on paternity" is incomplete.