he was away

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was away" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was not present or unavailable during a certain period of time. Example sentence: "I couldn't find him in his office because he was away on a business trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was away.

The New York Times - Magazine

While he was away, Maj.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was away from all the men.

The New Yorker

He was away all the time.

The Guardian - Arts

While he was away, his cousin Bolingbroke returned from exile.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It all must have happened while he was away.

The New Yorker

And then, when he was away, you came back.

The New Yorker

Whenever he was away, fighters appeared and threatened the refugees.

The New Yorker

He was away from home a lot; too much.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

While he was away, his time expired, and he lost.

The New York Times

A person answering his office phone said he was away.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was away" to indicate a temporary absence, specifying the reason or duration where relevant for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "he was away" when a more specific reason for absence is known and relevant, such as "he was on vacation" or "he was at a conference". Providing detail enhances clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was away" functions as part of a clause within a sentence, typically serving as the predicate. It indicates a state of absence or non-presence of the subject ('he') from a particular location or situation. Ludwig shows examples where this phrase provides context for events occurring during someone's absence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

9%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was away" is a common and grammatically sound way to express someone's absence from a particular place or situation. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is frequently used in news and media contexts, but can also appear in encyclopedias and scientific literature. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct and usable part of a sentence, useful for providing context or explaining events that occurred during the individual's absence. While generally neutral in tone, providing additional detail about the reason for or duration of the absence can enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "he was absent" or "he was out of town" may be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was absent

Replaces 'away' with 'absent', directly indicating a lack of presence.

he was out of town

Specifies the reason for absence as being in another town.

he was not present

More formal way of stating someone was not there.

he had left

Indicates he departed some time ago, with a focus on the action of leaving.

he was on leave

Indicates a formally approved absence, such as vacation or sick leave.

he was abroad

Specifies that he was in a foreign country.

he was on a trip

Suggests a journey as the cause of his absence.

he was not available

Highlights his unavailability rather than his physical location.

he was off-site

Suggests he was not on the premises, often used in a work context.

he was elsewhere

Indicates he was in another unspecified location.

FAQs

How can I use "he was away" in a sentence?

You can use "he was away" to indicate a temporary absence. For instance, "The project stalled because "he was away" on business."

What are some alternatives to "he was away"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "he was absent", "he was out of town", or "he was on leave".

Is it better to say "he was away" or "he was gone"?

Both are correct, but "he was away" often implies a temporary absence with an expected return, whereas "he was gone" can suggest a longer or permanent departure. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "he was away" and "he was out"?

"He was away" usually indicates a more significant absence, possibly involving travel. "He was out" can refer to a short absence from a specific location, like an office or room. For example, saying "he was out for lunch".