leave out

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave out" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to mean to omit, exclude, or leave something out. For example, "When making a grocery list, be sure not to leave out any necessary ingredients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Leave out "any" and-?

Yale University

If you leave out fire.

The New Yorker

But which to leave out?

Independent

Don't leave out.

The New York Times - Sports

Leave out names.

The New York Times

It's what you leave out. . . .

The New Yorker

Did I leave out anything?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But leave out the raisins — too chewy.

The New Yorker

"What did I leave out?" Leonard asked.

The New Yorker

What did the artist leave out?

Independent

Not to leave out John Travolta.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions or recipes, use "leave out" to clearly indicate ingredients or steps that should be excluded for specific variations or dietary needs.

Common error

Avoid using "leave" alone when you intend to convey omission. "Leave" by itself suggests physical departure, while "leave out" specifically indicates exclusion or omission. For example, don't say "Leave the sugar" when you mean "Leave out the sugar".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "leave out" functions primarily as a directive or instructional verb, indicating that something should be omitted or excluded. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a common and correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Wiki

31%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "leave out" is a versatile and commonly used expression that instructs the omission or exclusion of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and well-regarded. While suitable for both informal and professional communication, more formal settings may benefit from using synonyms such as "omit" or "exclude". Its prevalence across various platforms – from news articles to how-to guides – underscores its broad applicability, solidifying its place as a valuable tool in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

omit

A more formal and direct synonym for leaving something out, often used in writing.

drop

Suggests removing something, often from a list or plan.

exclude

Implies a deliberate act of keeping something or someone from being part of a group or consideration.

cut out

Implies removing something, often with scissors or other cutting tools.

skip

Suggests a more casual or unintentional omission, often in a sequence or list.

overlook

Means to fail to notice something, often unintentionally.

leave aside

Suggests temporarily setting something aside for later consideration.

miss out

Suggests failing to include something, often leading to a sense of loss or incompleteness.

forget to include

Highlights the act of forgetting as the reason for the omission.

disregard

Means to intentionally ignore something, treating it as unimportant.

FAQs

How to use "leave out" in a sentence?

You can use "leave out" to indicate omitting something. For example, "Please "leave out" the details I already know" or "Don't "leave out" any important steps when explaining the process".

What's the difference between "omit" and "leave out"?

"Omit" is a more formal synonym for ""leave out"". While both mean to exclude something, "omit" is often used in more formal or technical contexts, while ""leave out"" is more common in everyday conversation.

What can I say instead of "leave out"?

You can use alternatives like "exclude", "omit", or "skip" depending on the context. For example, "Please exclude any irrelevant information" is a formal alternative.

Is it better to use "leave out" or "exclude" in formal writing?

While both are acceptable, "exclude" is generally preferred in formal writing as it conveys a more precise and deliberate act of omission compared to ""leave out"", which can sound more casual.