having left

USAGE SUMMARY

"having left" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the consequence of a preceding action. For example: "Having left the party early, he was the first one to arrive home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Difficult, having left, to return.

The New Yorker

Black has retired from lobbying, having left BKSH & Associates recently.

The Washington Post

Mr Blair will regret having left his thinking so late.

The Economist

I was doing office work, having left college at 18.

Independent

The part about Cohen not having left the country?

The Washington Post

Having left the City, I can tell the truth.

The Guardian

He succumbs to a vestigial shame at having left.

The Guardian - Books

They can't exactly run on having left no child behind.

The New York Times

They were all nervous – although excited – about having left home.

The Guardian

Mr. Coppin was not there, having left the apartment earlier.

The New York Times

Dawn broke without the clouds ever having left.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having left" to clearly indicate that one action preceded another, creating a cause-and-effect relationship in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "having left" if the timing of the departure is not directly relevant to the subsequent clause; instead, use a simple past tense construction if the sequence isn't critical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having left" functions as a perfect participle phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun by indicating a completed action prior to the main verb's action. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

19%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having left" is a grammatically correct and frequently used participle phrase that clearly indicates the completion of an action before another. Ludwig confirms its widespread acceptance across diverse contexts, especially in news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, ensure that the timing and sequence of events are important for clarity. The alternatives provided can offer stylistic variations, but "having left" is a reliable choice for establishing temporal relationships in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after departing

This alternative uses a more straightforward phrasing to indicate the action of leaving happened before something else.

once having departed

This alternative includes 'once' for emphasis on the completion of the action before the subsequent event.

subsequent to leaving

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the chronological order of events.

following the departure

This alternative uses a noun-based construction to describe the act of leaving.

after one's exit

This alternative replaces "leaving" with "exit" making it a noun-based phrase.

with the departure completed

This alternative focuses on the completed state of leaving.

on having gone away

This is a more colloquial phrasing that emphasizes the act of going away.

in the wake of departure

This alternative is more literary and emphasizes the consequences of leaving.

the act of leaving completed

This alternative highlights that the process of leaving is fully executed.

departure having occurred

This alternative places the emphasis on the occurrence of departure.

FAQs

How do I use "having left" in a sentence?

"Having left" indicates that one action was completed before another. For example, "Having left the house, she realized she forgot her keys."

What can I say instead of "having left"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "after departing", "once having departed", or "subsequent to leaving".

Is it ever incorrect to use "having left"?

Yes, if the timing of the departure is not directly relevant to the second part of the sentence, a simple past tense might be more appropriate. "She left the house and then realized she forgot her keys" may be more effective if you don't mean to emphasize cause and effect.

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

"Having left" indicates a completed action before another action occurs, whereas "leaving" suggests an action in progress or a future action. For example, "Having left, he felt relieved" versus "He is leaving now".