put on leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "put on leave" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe when someone is given a period of absence from their job for a limited amount of time. For example: "The company put her on leave for two weeks while they investigated her role in the data breach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

HSBC said it had suspended two workers in its London headquarters, while Citigroup confirmed that two employees had been put "on leave", including one based in the US.

Independent

She has been put on leave.

The New York Times

On Tuesday afternoon, Harrison tweeted that Kelly was put on leave.

The Washington Post

Another engineer, who Horvath claims ripped code out of projects that they worked on together after she rejected his romantic advances, has also been put on leave.

TechCrunch

The three officers who fired their weapons have been put on leave.

Los Angeles Times

New York prison officials put on leave amid review into inmates' escape.

Los Angeles Times

Officials have confirmed that at least six police officers have been put on leave.

Los Angeles Times

The cop involved reportedly has not been put on leave nor had duties changed thus far.

Vice

Cruz was recently put on leave as his performance at the helm of Men's Central Jail is investigated.

Los Angeles Times

Stacho has been an employee of Durham for three years, Patch reports, and has previously been put on leave.

Huffington Post

This would be a good idea – except that the majority of the population should be put on leave.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put on leave" when you want to indicate a temporary suspension from duties, often pending an investigation or for administrative reasons. This implies that the person is expected to return to their position after the leave period.

Common error

Avoid using "put on leave" when the intention is to permanently terminate someone's employment. "Put on leave" suggests a temporary absence, while termination implies a final separation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put on leave" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone is being subjected to a temporary suspension from their duties. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies the phrase as correct and usable. Examples from Ludwig show it frequently used in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put on leave" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the temporary suspension of an individual from their duties, often pending investigation or for administrative purposes. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in various contexts, especially in news and media reporting. The phrase carries a neutral tone and implies an expectation of eventual return, distinguishing it from permanent termination. Common alternatives include "suspended from duty" or "placed on administrative leave". When using this phrase, ensure the context aligns with a temporary rather than a permanent separation to avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

place on administrative leave

Specifies the type of leave, often implying an internal review or investigation.

be temporarily suspended

Passive voice emphasizing the action being taken upon the individual.

temporarily suspend

Highlights the temporary nature of the suspension more explicitly.

suspend from duty

Focuses more on the formal action of temporarily removing someone from their responsibilities.

be stood down

A more concise way of saying "stand down temporarily", often used in military or organizational contexts.

relieve of duties

Emphasizes the removal of responsibilities without necessarily implying wrongdoing.

stand down temporarily

Implies a voluntary or agreed-upon temporary relinquishment of a position.

be granted a leave of absence

Focuses on the permission or authorization aspect of the leave.

give a sabbatical

Suggests a more formal and often longer period of leave, typically for academic or professional development.

take a break from work

A more general term for taking time off, not necessarily related to disciplinary action.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "put on leave"?

To be "put on leave" generally means that an employee is temporarily suspended from their job, often while an investigation takes place or for other administrative reasons. The employee is usually expected to return to their position after the leave period.

What are some alternatives to saying "put on leave"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "suspended from duty", "temporarily suspended", or "placed on administrative leave".

Is "put on leave" the same as being fired?

No, "put on leave" is not the same as being fired. Being "put on leave" implies a temporary suspension, while being fired means permanent termination of employment.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "put on leave"?

It is appropriate to use "put on leave" when an employee is temporarily removed from their duties, typically pending an investigation or for administrative reasons, with the expectation that they may return to their position.