had gone absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had gone absent" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used in contexts where someone is indicating that a person has been missing or not present for a period of time, often in a formal or official context. Example: "The employee had gone absent for several days without notifying management."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Within eight months she had gone absent without leave and returned to the Irish stables.

The Guardian

Several weeks later I served as Defense Counsel in a Courts Martial of a black enlisted man who had gone Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from his German base.

Huffington Post

Patton wrote in his diary that he loathed making the apologies, particularly when he was told by Bennett's brigade commander, Brigadier General John A. Crane, that Bennett had gone absent without leave (AWOL) and arrived at the hospital by "falsely representing his condition".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The defence secretary's brain has gone absent without leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

The question was put by Labour's Andy Slaughter, who accused Gove of having "gone absent" from the prisons crisis in recent weeks and warning him that unless he gripped it soon, "he is going to lose control fully of the prison estate".

The Guardian

I've gone absent with leave a couple of times during my PhD.

Science Magazine

But my dad was absent and part of me had gone missing too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Powell called the sculpture a "nondenominational American altar piece" that compressed into one work the "alchemy of moral imperative" in American race relations that had gone suddenly absent by 1897.

Harvard University

Ray Ratto writes on CBSSports.com that the matter could be solved by some old-school refereeing, which has gone noticeably absent in recent years.

The New York Times - Sports

"Among them was an officer in the Azerbaijani army". Mr Babayev said that part of the group was detained at the weekend in the village of Mashtagi, near Baku, including the military officer, who had recently gone absent from his post.

The Guardian

Korb feels that the Army should definitely conduct an Article 32 investigation to determine whether court-martial charges should be brought, keeping in mind that over the past decade 15,000 men and women in our armed services have also gone absent without leave.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "had been absent" or "had gone missing" for broader audiences.

Common error

Avoid using "had gone absent" when you mean something simply "was absent". "The feature had gone absent" is less clear than "The feature was absent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gone absent" functions as a verb phrase indicating a completed action of leaving or being away. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is acceptable, though not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had gone absent" is a grammatically acceptable phrase used to describe a past state of absence, often with implications of unauthorized departure. However, Ludwig AI points out it is not the most common choice; alternatives like "had been absent" or "had gone missing" are generally preferred for clarity and broader audience appeal. The phrase tends to appear in neutral to formal contexts, such as news reports or official accounts, but its infrequent usage suggests careful consideration of context is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been absent

Emphasizes a state of being away, rather than the action of leaving.

had gone missing

Implies a disappearance that may be involuntary or mysterious.

had left without leave

Highlights the lack of permission for the absence.

had disappeared

Implies a sudden and often unexplained absence.

had deserted

Specifically refers to unauthorized departure from military service.

had not been present

Formally states the absence without specifying the reason.

had absconded

Suggests a secret and often illegal departure.

had taken leave

Indicates an approved absence, the opposite of "gone absent".

had skipped

Suggests a casual or unauthorized departure, often from a responsibility.

had played truant

Specifically refers to unauthorized absence from school.

FAQs

What does "had gone absent" mean?

The phrase "had gone absent" generally means that someone was previously present but is now missing or away. It often implies an unauthorized or unexplained departure.

Which is more common, "had gone absent" or "had been absent"?

"Had been absent" is the more common and generally preferred phrase. It's a more straightforward way to express that someone was not present.

Can I use "had gone absent" to describe an object or concept?

While grammatically possible, it's more common to use "had gone absent" to describe a person. For objects or concepts, consider using phrases like "was absent", "was missing", or "had disappeared".

What's the difference between "had gone absent" and "had gone missing"?

"Had gone absent" implies a departure from a place or duty, whereas "had gone missing" suggests a disappearance, often under unclear circumstances. "Had gone missing" often carries a connotation of concern or worry about the person's whereabouts.