leave towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leave towards" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, and it may confuse readers due to its ambiguity. Example: "I will leave towards the city" does not clearly indicate the intended direction or destination.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Other work includes a Migrant's Monument which was erected in the main bus station from where Romanians leave towards the west.

The Guardian

On 1 July 2009, Digital Spy reported that Loui Batley had quit the soap and would leave towards the end of the year.

Wikipedia

The Hollyoaks website officially announced on 23 July 2009 that both Batley and Lister would leave towards the end of that year.

Wikipedia

On 8 June 2009, media entertainment website Digital Spy revealed that Lister had quit the soap and would leave towards the end of the year.

Wikipedia

Hollyoaks officially announced on 23 July 2009 that both Lister and Batley would leave towards the end of the year in a storyline that would see "A tragic curtain call for one of them", later revealing that either Sarah or Zoe would be killed off in a dramatic storyline.

Wikipedia

This asymmetry which can also be seen as hierarchy because the leaf nodes are apparently dead end streets regarding information flow (no information can leave towards other periodic genes) is a central part of our hypothesis 6 we raised in the 'methods' section.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

12. Turn left towards St Aldgate's.

The Guardian - Travel

Walking left towards the river, I come to the centrepiece.

Independent

Shortly after Kirkinner turn left towards Garlieston on the B7004.

The Guardian - Travel

Road ahead branches left towards row of houses.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the road forks, bear left towards Snape.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement, use precise verbs like "head", "depart", or "travel" with clear directional prepositions such as "to", "for", or "towards" followed by a specific destination. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "leave towards" as it's not standard English. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "depart for", "head to", or "go towards" to accurately convey direction and destination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave towards" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating direction. However, it's not considered standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it can be ambiguous and is better replaced with more precise alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leave towards" is considered grammatically incorrect and not standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's better to use clearer alternatives like "depart for", "head to", or "go towards" to accurately convey direction. While it appears in some contexts like news articles, its overall frequency is uncommon, and authoritative sources generally avoid it. When writing, prioritize clarity and precision by choosing more standard directional phrases to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go towards

Specifies movement in the direction of something, replacing "leave" with a more directional verb.

head to

Suggests movement in a specific direction, offering a more straightforward alternative to "leave towards".

depart for

Indicates the destination of departure, replacing the ambiguous "towards" with a specific location.

be headed for

Suggests a course being taken that will arrive at a specific location. Offers a more grammatically sound alternative to "leave towards".

set out for

Implies the beginning of a journey with a defined destination, replacing "leave" and clarifying direction.

start towards

Highlights the beginning of movement in a specific direction, providing a clear alternative to "leave towards".

move in the direction of

Uses a formal way to indicate movement, clarifying the intended path and eliminating the ambiguity of "leave towards".

take off to

Implies beginning a journey to a specific place, replacing "leave" and focusing on arrival point.

make way for

Suggests clearing a path in a specific direction, moving away from "leave" to focus on direction.

exit in the direction of

Highlights the act of leaving in a specific direction, providing a formal alternative to "leave towards".

FAQs

What is a more appropriate alternative to "leave towards"?

Instead of "leave towards", you can use phrases like "depart for", "head to", or "go towards" depending on the context to ensure clarity and correctness.

Is "leave towards" grammatically correct in English?

No, "leave towards" is not grammatically correct. Standard English prefers clearer directional phrases such as "depart for" or "head to".

How can I use "go towards" correctly in a sentence instead of "leave towards"?

Use "go towards" to indicate movement in a specific direction. For example, instead of "They leave towards the forest", say "They go towards the forest".

What's the difference between "leave for" and "leave towards"?

"Leave for" indicates a confirmed destination, while "leave towards" is not standard English. Use "leave for" when the destination is clear, such as "I leave for London tomorrow".