having passed away

USAGE SUMMARY

"having passed away" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to someone who has died, often in a more gentle or respectful manner. Example: "She was deeply affected by her friend's having passed away." Alternative expressions include "having died" and "having departed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

For this he won a Nobel prize in economics (Tversky having passed away).

The Guardian - Opinion

A new actor will be stepping into the role of Aladdin's Genie, with voice actor from the original Robin Williams having passed away last year.

Independent

Epic effort by Ronnie Carroll, who polled 113 votes in Hampstead & Kilburn, despite having passed away some weeks before the election.

The Telegraph

Like Bangs, who died in 1982, Pretend Neal is no longer with us, having passed away under mysterious circumstances in 1994.

The New York Times - Books

What can you tell me about it?" She responds that she considers it misleading to speak of people as having passed away.

The New York Times

Brought up by his father in Chingford, his mother having passed away when Davies was just six, he began performing standup at the Whitstable Labour club while at university in Kent.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

His wife had passed away.

The New York Times - Health

"La Dama de Hierro" has passed away.

Independent

Too many have passed away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"That she had passed away".

The Guardian

His father had passed away in 1988.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this participle phrase to provide necessary background context without making death the primary focus of the sentence's main action.

Common error

Do not use "having passed away" in strictly clinical, medical or legal contexts where technical precision is required. In a coroner's report or a medical certificate, use "having died" or "having deceased" to ensure clarity and professional standards.

Linguistic Context

The phrase ""having passed away"" functions as a perfect participle phrase. It is used to indicate an action that was completed prior to the time of the main verb in the sentence. Ludwig shows this is often used to explain a current state or a decision (e.g., recasting a role or explaining an inheritance).

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase ""having passed away"" is a grammatically correct and widely used perfect participle phrase. Ludwig AI identifies it as a Common expression, particularly within the News & Media category. It serves as a respectful euphemism for death, allowing writers to provide context about a deceased individual without the harshness of the word "died". Reliable sources such as The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employ it in obituaries and reports on public figures. While it is excellent for maintaining a sensitive tone, writers should ensure they choose the most appropriate alternative, like "having died", when the context requires technical or clinical objectivity rather than emotional cushioning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having died

More direct and factual, avoiding euphemism

after passing away

Uses a temporal preposition to indicate sequence

having passed on

Suggests a transition, often used in religious contexts

on passing away

Focuses on the specific timing of the death

having departed

More formal or spiritual in tone

having lost their life

Emphasizes the tragic nature of the event

having succumbed

Typically used in the context of illness or injury

having perished

Often suggests a violent or sudden death

having deceased

Highly formal and often reserved for legal documents

having breathed their last

A poetic and literary alternative

FAQs

How to use "having passed away" in a sentence?

You can use it to provide background information about a person who is no longer alive, such as: "The role was recast due to the original actor "having passed away"."

What can I say instead of "having passed away"?

Depending on the tone, you can use "having died" for directness or "having departed" for a more formal feel.

Is it correct to say "having passed away"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a standard English expression used to refer to death in a gentle manner.

What is the difference between "having passed away" and "having died"?

The main difference is the register; "having died" is factual and blunt, while ""having passed away"" is a euphemism used to be more polite or sensitive.