holiday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "holiday" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a day of celebration or a period of time spent away from work or school for leisure or travel. Example: "We are planning a family holiday to the beach this summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're working hard over the holiday period to make the necessary adjustments to our timetable as a consequence, and to provide as much information as we can".

The Guardian - Business

Ah, the beauty about Christmas is that stories - already rebutted - can get a second life after the holiday season.

The Guardian - Tech

Louise wins a four-night walking holiday for two in Northumberland with Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk).

The Guardian - Travel

One writes back straight away, sighing over how she wishes she could have a "me time" holiday too.

The Guardian - Travel

mrvikkis.co.uk KF Following on from René Redzepi taking the Noma team to Tokyo's Mandarin Oriental for a busman's holiday, another cutting-edge Scandinavian chef, Magnus Nilsson of Fäviken, has decided to close his restaurant, Fäviken, in Järpen, Sweden, for 20 weeks a year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The first was written during Lucinda's final illness and describes a holiday the couple took on Crete after discovering that she had only a year and a half to live.

The Guardian - Books

Stop off along the way at Calke Abbey to join the National Trust's seven-night working holiday maintaining pathways and constructing tree guards.

The Guardian - Travel

Carne, who earns £675,000 a year, had been in line for a £30,000 bonus this year but came under fire for being on holiday in Cornwall during the disruption on the network.

The Guardian

It breaks household wealth down into four broad categories: Net property wealth: if owned, the value of a household's main residence including any other property such as second homes, holiday homes, land and buy-to-lets.

The Guardian

A holiday by the sea relieves symptoms because pollen counts are lower there.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Make this the year YOU discover a new destination," he sarcastically writes in its captions, recalling the banal exhortations of holiday brochures.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a "holiday", consider your audience and choose the most appropriate term, whether it's a formal "leave of absence" or a more casual "vacation".

Common error

Avoid using "holiday" and "holy day" interchangeably. "Holiday" generally refers to a vacation or day off, while "holy day" refers to a religious observance. Be precise in your writing to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "holiday" is as a noun, referring to a day of celebration or a period of time taken off from work or studies. It can also function as a verb, meaning to take a holiday. Ludwig AI indicates it's generally considered correct English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Travel

30%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Sport

8%

Business

7%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "holiday" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a noun, denoting a break from routine or a festive occasion. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted, appearing frequently in news, travel, and lifestyle content. While interchangeable with terms like "vacation", "holiday" carries a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Remember to distinguish it from "holy day" to avoid confusion. As exemplified by Ludwig, mastering the use of "holiday" enhances clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Vacation

A general term for time off from work or school, often used interchangeably with "holiday".

Vacation time

The amount of time allocated for vacation.

Time off

A broad term referring to any period of absence from work or regular duties.

Leave of absence

A more formal term for an extended period away from work.

Period of rest

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing the relaxing aspect of a holiday.

Break

A shorter period of rest or recreation.

Day off

A single day free from work or school.

Public holiday

A day recognized by law when most businesses and schools are closed.

Recess

Primarily used in an academic context to denote a break from classes.

Festive season

Specifically refers to holidays celebrated around a particular time of year, like Christmas.

FAQs

What's the difference between "holiday" and "vacation"?

"Holiday" is more commonly used in British English, while "vacation" is more common in American English. Both refer to a period of time taken off from work or studies for leisure or travel. They are often interchangeable, but context matters. For example, in the UK, it's common to say "summer holiday", while in the US, it's "summer vacation".

What can I say instead of "holiday" to sound more formal?

For more formal contexts, you can use terms like "leave of absence" or "time off". These alternatives are suitable for professional communication and official documents.

How do I use "holiday" in a sentence?

You can use "holiday" to describe a period of leisure, a public celebration, or a day off. For example: "We are planning a family holiday to Italy", "Christmas is a major holiday", or "I have a holiday from work next Monday".

Is it correct to say "holiday's" or "holidays'"?

The correct form depends on the context. "Holiday's" is used to indicate possession by a single holiday (e.g., "the holiday's traditions"). "Holidays'" indicates possession by multiple holidays (e.g., "the holidays' decorations").