left work early

USAGE SUMMARY

'left work early' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to talk about someone leaving their job earlier than usual or their normal quitting time. For example: "John left work early today, so he could get a jump start on his weekend plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I left work early to make sure I was the first in line," she said.

The New York Times

Domenica Prainito, 39, a financial analyst, left work early to shop for herself.

The New York Times

I wondered if my father had left work early for my sake.

The New Yorker

He had left work early on Jan . 18 complaining of illness.

The New York Times

Cheng Zhu, a decorator, left work early and went straight to his daughter's school.

The Washington Post

She had left work early, along with ten of her colleagues, and with the permission of her supervisor.

The New Yorker

It was a warm, sunny day, and many in the crowd had left work early to be there.

The New Yorker

Mrs. Robinson said her husband was on the ill-fated ferry because he left work early with the flu.

The New York Times

So on Thursday he left work early and went to their apartment on the Upper East Side.

The New York Times

Two days later, I left work early, and Huong and I set out to meet with the Croc, who had sounded Cantonese on the phone.

The New Yorker

According to her testimony at the trial, she was not actually present at the time of the fire but had left work early.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "left work early", clarify the reason for leaving if it adds important context. For example, "She left work early /s/due+to due to a family emergency".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses or prepositions. For example, it's "left work early", not "leaved from work early" or "leaving work early without permission".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left work early" functions as a statement of action, indicating that someone departed from their job or workplace before the regularly scheduled time. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "left work early" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes the act of departing from one's job before the scheduled time. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is straightforward and widely accepted. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with a neutral register making it suitable for various situations. When using this phrase, consider adding context to clarify the reason for the early departure. While alternatives exist, such as "departed from work prematurely", "left work early" remains a simple and effective way to convey this concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished work before the regular time

Focuses on completing work before the established timeframe.

went home early from work

Focuses on the destination (home) and specifies the context (from work).

departed from work prematurely

Replaces "left" with a more formal synonym and uses "prematurely" to emphasize the earliness of the departure.

left the office before the end of the day

Specifies the location (office) and timeframe (end of the day) for leaving early.

got off work ahead of time

Emphasizes getting free from work obligations earlier than expected.

exited the workplace ahead of schedule

Uses more descriptive and formal language to convey the same meaning.

took off work early

Uses the phrasal verb "took off" to indicate leaving, which is slightly more informal.

clocked out early

A more informal and direct way to express leaving work early, specifically referring to using a time clock.

cut out of work early

Uses the phrasal verb "cut out" to indicate a quick or abrupt departure from work.

skipped out of work early

Implies a less formal, and potentially unauthorized, early departure.

FAQs

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

You can use "left work early" to describe someone who departed from their job before the scheduled time. For example, "He /s/left+work+early+because because he wasn't feeling well".

What's a more formal way to say "left work early"?

A more formal alternative to "left work early" is "departed from work prematurely", which conveys a similar meaning but with a more professional tone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "left from work early"?

No, the correct phrasing is "left work early". The preposition "from" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context. It's better to say "She /s/left+work+early left work early to attend her daughter's school play".

What are some common reasons people might "leave work early"?

People might /s/leave+work+early leave work early for various reasons, such as appointments, family emergencies, feeling unwell, or due to inclement weather. The specific reason often provides additional context.