out of school

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of school" is a correct and widely used phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as to describe someone's current state of not being in school, or to refer to a specific time period when someone was no longer attending school. Example: 1. "Samantha was excited to finally be out of school and ready to start her career." 2. "The teacher reminded the students not to use their phones during class, but they were free to use them out of school." 3. "The summer break was coming to an end, and the kids were dreading going back to school after being out of school for two months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Some may even drop out of school.

BBC

And don't really drop out of school.

TechCrunch

School base excludes out of school youth.

BMJ Open

She'd been out of school.

The New Yorker

Kids drop out of school.

The New Yorker

"Summertime, kids are out of school.

The New York Times

At six, she dropped out of school.

The New Yorker

He dropped out of school at 14.

The New York Times - Arts

Is it kids out of school?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

out-of-school care; group or individual.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

AGNs identified 61,827 out-of-school children.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "out of school" to describe a period of time, ensure the context clarifies whether it's temporary (e.g., vacation) or permanent (e.g., dropping out).

Common error

Avoid using "out of school" vaguely. Be specific about whether the absence is temporary, such as during summer vacation, or permanent, such as when someone "dropped out of school".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of school" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying nouns or verbs to indicate a state of being absent from or no longer involved with formal education. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples, showcasing its varied applications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "out of school" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It typically functions as a prepositional phrase, denoting a state of being absent from or no longer engaged in formal education. Its applications range from describing temporary breaks to permanent departures from the educational system. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Common alternative include "not attending school" or ""dropped out of school"", depending on the intended meaning. Always ensure clarity regarding the duration of being "out of school" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not attending school

Focuses on the act of non-attendance, emphasizing the absence from school.

dropped out of school

Implies a permanent cessation of school attendance.

away from school

Highlights the physical separation or distance from the school environment.

expelled from school

Indicates a forced removal from school, usually due to disciplinary reasons.

on leave from school

Implies a temporary absence with the expectation of returning to school.

fresh out of school

Implies someone has recently finished their schooling.

not in education

Broader term encompassing all forms of education, not just school.

children of non-school age

Referring to kids who are too young to attend school.

between school terms

Specifically refers to the period between academic sessions.

after school hours

Indicates a time frame, specifically the period following the end of the school day.

FAQs

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

You can use "out of school" to describe a temporary absence, such as "The kids are "away from school" for the summer", or a permanent one, like "He "dropped out of school" at 16".

What is the difference between "out of school" and "not in school"?

"Out of school" generally implies a temporary or defined period of absence, whereas "not in school" can suggest a more permanent state or a general condition of not being enrolled.

What can I say instead of "out of school" to indicate someone has finished their education?

Alternatives include "fresh out of school" to indicate recently completed education, or "not attending school".

Is it correct to say "out of the school" instead of "out of school"?

While grammatically possible depending on context, "out of the school" is less common. "Out of school" generally refers to the entire concept of schooling, whereas "out of the school" refers to a specific school building or institution.