i leave at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I leave at" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the time at which someone is departing from a location. Example: "I leave at 5 PM for the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

I leave at once".

The New Yorker

And why would I leave at all?

The New York Times

I leave at 1 10.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Did I leave at the wrong time?

The Guardian - Travel

But I leave at five o'clock every day, religiously.

The Guardian - Business

When I leave at 12, some are still in here".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

More: Who Is Left At Palm? Hint: Not Execs Katie Mitic Or Jeff Zwerner.

TechCrunch

The next week I left at 5 30.

The New York Times

I left at 1am.

The Guardian

I left at 2 30 in the afternoon.

The New York Times - Arts

I left at 15 with no qualifications... no GCSEs, nothing.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "I leave at" to clearly communicate your departure time, ensuring the context is understood and the time is precise. For example, "I leave at 6 PM, so I won't be able to attend the meeting."

Common error

Avoid using "I leave on" followed by a time; instead, use "I leave at" to specify a particular time. "I leave on" is usually followed by a day or date, not a time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i leave at" functions as a statement of future action, specifically indicating the time of departure. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to clearly communicate when someone is planning to leave.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "i leave at" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express the time of your departure. According to Ludwig, this phrase is frequently used in news and media, academia, and science. When using this phrase, ensure that you are using "at" before the exact time of departure. For more formal alternatives, consider "I will depart at". Be mindful not to confuse "at" with "on" when specifying time, which should only be used to define the day, not the hour.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i am leaving at

Adds a sense of continuous action, emphasizing the process of leaving.

i will depart at

More formal synonym for leaving, suitable for official contexts.

i plan to leave at

Indicates an intention or schedule to leave at a specific time.

i'm scheduled to leave at

Emphasizes that the departure is part of a pre-arranged plan.

my departure is at

Focuses on the departure itself rather than the person leaving.

i'm set to leave at

Similar to scheduled, but with a slightly less formal tone.

i must leave by

Conveys a deadline or latest possible departure time.

i have to leave at

Highlights an obligation or necessity to leave at that time.

i intend to leave at

Expresses a firm intention to leave at a specified time.

i'm going to leave at

Informal way of stating the time of departure, indicating a future action.

FAQs

What is the correct way to specify departure time?

The correct way to specify departure time is by using the construction "I leave at [time]". For example, "I leave at 5 PM" is grammatically correct.

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

For a more formal tone, you can use the phrase "I will depart at" followed by the specific time.

Is it correct to say "I leave on" followed by a specific time?

No, it is not correct. "I leave on" is typically followed by a day or date. To specify the time, use "I leave at," for example, "I leave at 8 AM" is correct, while "I leave on 8 AM" is incorrect.

What's the difference between "I leave at" and "I am leaving at"?

"I leave at" indicates a scheduled or habitual departure time. "I am leaving at" suggests an immediate or ongoing action of departing at a specific time.