left work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left work" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone departing from their job or place of work. For example, "I left work early today to finish my errands."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I left work.

The Guardian

Ethan left work to meet me.

The New York Times

Mr. Pascall was arrested as he left work.

The New York Times

Wendell left work on Friday, and Breanna arrived on Monday.

The New York Times

He began to wonder, "Should I not have left work?

The New Yorker

On the afternoon my mother died, she left work early.

The New York Times

I felt that way when I left work".

The New York Times

And when he left work, he wasn't done working.

The New York Times

I left work to actually raise the child.

The Guardian

By the time I left work at 4 p.m., I was in full-fledged panic.

The New York Times

He left work early one afternoon in July and hopped on board to visit a friend.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's departure from work, consider the context. Use "left work early" to indicate leaving before the usual time or "left work for the day" to specify it was the end of their shift.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct tense. "Left work" indicates a completed action in the past. Use "leaving work" for ongoing or future actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left work" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. Ludwig AI confirms its common and correct usage. It describes the action of someone ceasing their work activities and departing from their place of employment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left work" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the action of departing from one's place of employment. Ludwig AI confirms its wide acceptance and correct usage. As evidenced by the numerous examples, it appears frequently in news articles, academic papers, and casual conversation. While semantically similar phrases exist, such as "departed from work" or "finished working", "left work" remains a versatile and frequently used option. When using the phrase, be mindful of the tense and context to ensure accurate communication. Consider alternatives based on the level of formality and specificity required. With a neutral register, "left work" fits into diverse writing styles. The usage data further confirms this, with the phrase being most common in news and media, followed by academic and formal business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got off work

Similar meaning to 'left work' but with a slightly different structure.

left the office

More specific, referring to leaving a physical office space.

departed from work

Formal synonym emphasizing the act of leaving.

finished working

Focuses on the completion of work rather than the act of leaving.

clocked out

Informal term indicating the end of a work shift.

called it a day

Idiomatic expression indicating the end of work for the day.

signed off

Similar to 'clocked out' but can also apply to finishing tasks online.

knocked off

British slang for finishing work.

vacated the workplace

Formal and somewhat uncommon way of saying 'left work'.

exited employment

Formal way of expressing leaving a job.

FAQs

How can I use "left work" in a sentence?

You can use "left work" to describe someone's departure from their job. For example, "She "left work" at 5 PM today".

What can I say instead of "left work"?

You can use alternatives like "departed from work", "finished working", or "got off work" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "left work" or "leaved work"?

"Left work" is the correct past tense form. "Leaved" is not a standard English verb form.

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

"Left work" indicates a completed action in the past. "Leaving work" describes an action that is currently happening or about to happen.