leaving for better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leaving for better" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of departing in search of improved circumstances or conditions. Example: "After much consideration, she decided that leaving for better opportunities was the right choice for her future."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Certainly some of these vets are leaving for better jobs.

Harvard Business Review

Concerned medical professionals argued that the country's health care program was seriously undermined by nurses' and doctors' leaving for better economic opportunities in the developed world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cuba also has a population problem: its people are among the oldest in Latin America, have few children, and its educated professionals are leaving for better work abroad.

The Guardian

Hill & Barlow, a prominent law firm that defended the anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti and gave rise to three governors, has voted to dissolve because its real estate lawyers are leaving for better opportunities.

The New York Times

W3Health denied the allegations, saying in a press release that McKesson is bullying a rival that has created a superior product and trying to discourage McKesson workers from leaving for better jobs.

The New York Times

He told legislators that since joining the teaching staff just two years ago, "10 teachers have left and I've been through two principals, three assistant principals, and the department chair who hired me is leaving for better pay in Dallas".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Millions of farmers are leaving for better-paying factory jobs.

The New York Times

Now the New York, Brooklyn and Queens library systems face a new problem -- the rapid departure of their professional librarians, who are leaving for better-paying jobs in the suburbs and other cities.

The New York Times

When one state suffered higher unemployment, its people left for better opportunities in another.

The Economist

Experts retired or left for better prospects, mostly in northern Saskatchewan or Australia.

The Economist

Over a century, ending in the 1970s, 25 million Italians left for better lives elsewhere.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clearer and more formal writing, replace "leaving for better" with phrases like "leaving for better opportunities" or "departing for improved prospects". This adds precision and improves grammatical correctness.

Common error

Don't use "leaving for better" without specifying what exactly is "better". Providing concrete details (e.g., "leaving for better pay" or "leaving for better work-life balance") enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaving for better" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically acting as an adverbial modifier. It describes the reason or purpose behind someone's departure, indicating they are leaving in pursuit of something improved. Ludwig AI points out it's grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leaving for better" is a prepositional phrase used to describe the reason for someone's departure, implying a desire for improved circumstances. However, as pointed out by Ludwig AI, it's not considered grammatically correct in formal English. While commonly used in news and media, more precise and formal alternatives like "leaving for better opportunities" or "departing for improved prospects" are recommended for clearer and more professional writing. Using specific details about what "better" entails adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leaving for greener pastures

Emphasizes the allure of more favorable conditions, akin to seeking a better environment.

departing for better opportunities

Replaces "leaving" with "departing" and uses the more formal "opportunities" instead of "better".

relocating for improved prospects

Substitutes "leaving" with "relocating" and highlights "prospects" for future success.

moving on to better things

Offers a more general and idiomatic expression for advancing to superior circumstances.

seeking better prospects elsewhere

Highlights the active search for improved opportunities in a different location.

exiting for more favorable conditions

Replaces "leaving" with the more formal "exiting" and specifies "favorable conditions".

transitioning to enhanced circumstances

Implies a planned change to a better state, using more formal vocabulary.

forsaking for superior alternatives

Suggests a deliberate abandonment in favor of distinctly better choices.

going away for a better deal

Emphasizes the transactional aspect of seeking improvement, often in business or personal contexts.

migrating for higher quality options

Connects the action of leaving to finding options that offer an increased amount of quality.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "leaving for better"?

You can use alternatives such as "leaving for better opportunities", "departing for improved prospects", or "moving on to better things" depending on the context.

Is "leaving for better" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "leaving for better" is considered grammatically informal. It's more precise to say "leaving for better opportunities" or a similar phrase.

How can I use "leaving for better" in a sentence?

While it's better to use more formal phrasing, an example could be: "Many professionals are considering "leaving for better" jobs abroad." However, it's recommended to rephrase as: "Many professionals are considering leaving for better job opportunities abroad."

What's the difference between "leaving for better" and "leaving for better opportunities"?

"Leaving for better" is a shorter, more informal way to express the idea. "Leaving for better opportunities" is more explicit and grammatically correct, specifying what the "better" refers to.