not at work

USAGE SUMMARY

"not at work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone is not currently at their place of employment. Example: My boss is not at work today; he's on vacation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But not at work.

University of California, Berkeley

But thieves were not at work.

The Economist

Not at work.

The New Yorker

Because they are not at work?

The Guardian - Tech

She and Deen were not at work.

The Guardian

"But not at work," Dean said in his usual deadpan.

The New York Times - Sports

"You're not at work," he says when I'm close enough.

The New Yorker

"I don't follow cops when they're not at work".

The Guardian

The illusion of theater is not at work here.

The New York Times

It's basically my life when I'm not at work".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

His instinct, while also legendary, was not at work here.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's availability, be specific about the reason they are "not at work". For example, specify if they are on vacation, sick leave, or attending a conference.

Common error

While "not at work" often implies someone is unavailable, clarify their accessibility. They might be checking emails or available for urgent calls, even if physically "not at work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not at work" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the location or state of someone being absent from their place of employment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not at work" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone's absence from their job, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a prepositional phrase and serves to inform about someone's location or state. Usage spans across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia and Wiki. While generally neutral in tone, the specific context dictates the formality level. When using "not at work", consider clarifying the reason for absence and their current "availability". For more formal situations, alternatives like "out of office" or "on leave" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

off work

This alternative is more concise and directly indicates a temporary absence from work.

away from work

This alternative emphasizes the physical separation from the workplace.

not on duty

This is typically used for professions with shifts or specific duty periods.

out of office

This phrase is commonly used to indicate unavailability, often in a professional context.

on leave

This indicates an authorized absence from work, often for a longer duration.

taking time off

This suggests a voluntary break from work, typically for leisure or personal reasons.

not working

This alternative simply states the absence of work activity.

resting

This emphasizes the recuperative aspect of being away from work.

at leisure

This highlights the freedom and relaxation associated with being away from work.

on vacation

This specifies that the time away from work is for a holiday or travel.

FAQs

How can I use "not at work" in a sentence?

You can use "not at work" to indicate someone is absent from their job. For example: "My colleague is "off work" today, so I'm handling her tasks".

What's a more formal way to say "not at work"?

In professional settings, you might use phrases like "out of office" or "on leave" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

Is it correct to say "not in work" instead of "not at work"?

While "not in work" might be understood, "not at work" is the more common and grammatically standard phrasing in most English-speaking regions.

What does it mean when someone says they are "not at work"?

It typically means they are absent from their usual place of employment, whether due to vacation, illness, a day off, or other reasons. Their "availability" may vary depending on the reason.