out of office

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of office" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to inform people that you are not available and unable to answer emails or calls. For example, "I will be out of office until Monday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Mr Carter was booted out of office.

The Economist

Salazar has been voted out of office.

The New Yorker

"He is out of office.

The New York Times

You dropped out of office.

The Guardian

Otherwise, they find themselves out of office.

The New York Times

Unpopularity drove Johnson out of office.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Out-of-office visit — $900.

The New Yorker

Out-of-office visit $900.

The New Yorker

Our out-of-office messages are generally short and polite.

Huffington Post

►Please pay attention to your out-of-office messages.

Los Angeles Times

Out-of-office and Off-hours care Five studies examined the provision of out-of-office and/or off-hours care [ 18, 23, 24, 26, 36].

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting an "out of office" message, specify the exact dates of your absence and an alternative contact for urgent matters.

Common error

Ensure you disable your "out of office" auto-reply upon your return to avoid confusion and appearing unresponsive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of office" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating a state of absence from one's workplace or official duties. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of office" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate temporary absence from work. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and general communications. When using the phrase, especially in an automated reply, provide clear dates of absence and alternative contact information. Common related phrases include "away from the office" and "on leave". Remember to disable your automatic reply upon your return to avoid any confusion. The phrase serves to inform others about unavailability and manage expectations for responses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

away from the office

Indicates physical absence from the workplace, focusing on location.

not working

Describes a state of not being engaged in work activities, generally conveys a broader meaning.

on leave

Suggests an authorized absence from work, often for a specified duration.

unavailable

Implies a lack of accessibility, whether physical or communicative.

on vacation

Specific type of leave taken for recreational purposes.

not on duty

Refers to not being in an active work shift or period.

temporarily absent

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the absence.

off work

Simple and direct way to express not being at work.

not present

Indicates the absence of a person from a particular place or situation.

retired

Implies permanent absence from the workforce.

FAQs

How can I use "out of office" in a sentence?

You can use "out of office" to indicate unavailability, such as "I will be "out of office" until next week" or "Please note that I am currently "out of office" and will respond upon my return".

What's the difference between "out of office" and "on vacation"?

"Out of office" is a general term for being away from work, while "on vacation" specifically implies being away for leisure or travel. You can be "out of office" due to illness, a conference, or other reasons, not just vacation.

What are some alternatives to saying "out of office"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "away from the office", "on leave", or "unavailable".

How do I configure an "out of office" auto-reply in Gmail?

In Gmail, go to Settings, then General, and scroll down to the "Vacation responder" section. Here, you can set the dates, subject, and message for your "out of office" auto-reply.