leaving to work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leaving to work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is departing from their current location to go to their workplace. Example: "I will be leaving to work shortly, so please make sure everything is ready for my arrival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

(One said he was leaving to work for the emergency manager's office).

The New York Times

A lot of people are leaving to work in retail and in light industry.

The Guardian

He was the pastor of numerous churches in California before leaving to work full time on the men's ministry.

The New York Times

He was leaving to work abroad this summer, he said, and would not miss the Premiership one bit.

The Guardian - Sport

"I am leaving to work for the navy for almost double my current pay," one medic wrote.

The Guardian

Archie Knox, who was assistant to Ferguson at Aberdeen, then Manchester United before leaving to work alongside Smith at Ibrox, says that very little separates the two men.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Afterward, Mr. Gordon attended Brooklyn College but left to work before graduating.

The New York Times

Mr. Toomey left to work for then-Gov.

The New York Times

Room for One Last summer, my roommate left to work abroad.

The New York Times

There is really nothing left to work with.

The New York Times

He left to work at Lutèce, Payard and Jean Georges.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leaving to work" to clearly indicate a departure with the specific intention of going to a place of employment. This phrasing is useful when clarifying the purpose of someone's departure.

Common error

Avoid confusing "leaving to work", which implies starting a job or going to a workplace, with "leaving work", which means finishing your workday or quitting a job altogether. The preposition 'to' significantly changes the meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaving to work" functions as a gerund phrase, typically used as part of a longer sentence to describe someone's action of departing to go to a place of employment. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leaving to work" is a grammatically sound and common way to express the action of departing with the intention of going to a place of employment. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used correctly and frequently across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's important to differentiate it from "leaving work", which has the opposite meaning. When writing, use "leaving to work" to clarify someone's intention to go to their job, and be mindful of potential misinterpretations. Alternatives like "heading to work" or "departing for employment" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departing for employment

Focuses on the destination, emphasizing the act of setting out towards a job.

transitioning into a job

Highlights the change in status, a move from not working to working.

relocating for work

Emphasizes a change of location as a necessary part of taking a new job.

starting a new position

Focuses on the beginning of employment in a specific role.

taking up employment

Similar to 'starting a new position', with a slightly more formal tone.

resigning to start work

Highlights the act of quitting a previous role, making room for work.

exiting to gain employment

Similar to 'resigning to start work', with the addition of highlighting the new state of being employed.

quitting to begin work

Highlights the termination of a previous engagement to facilitate the commencement of employment.

moving to accept a job

Underlines the shift in location and intention, clarifying the motivation behind the relocation.

shifting to work

Puts more emphasis on the active transition to labor.

FAQs

How can I use "leaving to work" in a sentence?

You can use "leaving to work" to indicate someone is departing for their workplace or a new job. For example: "She is "leaving to work" at the hospital now" or "He was "leaving to work" in another country".

What is an alternative to saying "leaving to work"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "heading to work", "departing for employment", or "relocating for work", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "leaving to work"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "leaving to work" is a present participle phrase used to describe the action of departing with the intention of going to work.

What's the difference between "leaving to work" and "leaving work"?

"Leaving to work" implies going to a job or starting employment, while "leaving work" indicates finishing a shift or resigning from a job. The context dictates which phrase is appropriate.