leave the papers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leave the papers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to abandon or not take the papers with them, often in a context where they are not needed anymore. Example: "After the meeting, please leave the papers on the table for the next group."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Where does that leave the papers?

Forbes

A spinoff would isolate the more toxic bits of Murdoch's business, though it could also leave the papers more vulnerable to an eventual sell-off.

Huffington Post

Get the substitute's  name when you leave the papers.

WikiHow

If this happens, the server should leave the papers near the respondent and walk away.

WikiHow

Simply type and print fifty or so papers with blanks for your customers' names, addresses, the style of the product they want, etc. Leave the papers on your stand next to a few pens and a box for turn-ins.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The pen doesn't leave the paper until the end of the word.

The New York Times

"I might leave the paper out there in the rain and go have lunch," she said.

The New York Times

We encourage people wanting to leave the paper to step forward.

The Guardian

The London Evening Standard's theatre critic, Nicholas de Jongh, is to leave the paper after 17 years.

The Guardian

By November of that year, he was making enough from writing stories to leave the paper.

The New Yorker

An inside source suggested it was his decision to leave the paper.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "leave the papers", be specific about where the papers should be left (e.g., "Leave the papers on the desk").

Common error

Avoid using "leave the papers" when you mean to say "hand in the papers" or "submit the papers". "Leave" implies abandonment, not delivery or submission.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave the papers" functions primarily as an imperative, instructing someone to abandon or not take the papers. Ludwig indicates this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leave the papers" is a grammatically correct imperative used to instruct someone to abandon or set aside documents. Ludwig confirms its grammatical validity. Its frequency is rare, appearing primarily in Wiki and News & Media contexts. When using the phrase, clarity is essential to avoid misinterpretation. Related phrases include "abandon the documents" and "put down the papers", offering alternative ways to express similar intentions. Despite its simplicity, precise usage ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abandon the documents

Replaces 'leave' with 'abandon', suggesting a more permanent relinquishment.

set aside the documents

Indicates a temporary action of putting documents to the side.

put down the papers

Implies placing the papers somewhere.

drop the documents

Suggests a quick and possibly careless abandonment.

forsake the records

More formal and emphasizes the act of giving up on the records.

relinquish the documents

Indicates a formal surrender of the documents.

hand over the papers

Implies transferring the papers to someone else.

dispose of the papers

Suggests discarding the papers, usually permanently.

dump the records

Informal and suggests discarding the records, usually in a negative context.

ditch the documents

Informal and suggests getting rid of the documents quickly.

FAQs

How can I use "leave the papers" in a sentence?

You can use "leave the papers" to instruct someone to abandon documents in a specific place, such as, "Please "leave the papers" on the table after you review them."

What is a formal alternative to "leave the papers"?

A more formal alternative would be "relinquish the documents", which is suitable for official contexts.

Is it correct to say "leave the papers here"?

Yes, "leave the papers here" is grammatically correct and commonly used to specify the location where the documents should be left.

What's the difference between ""leave the papers"" and "file the papers"?

"Leave the papers" means to abandon them or set them aside, while "file the papers" means to organize and store them properly.