taking leave

USAGE SUMMARY

"taking leave" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe someone going away, usually temporarily. Example sentence: I was sad to see my friend taking leave of me after our weekend vacation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No reason was given for his taking leave this time.

The Economist

The first work presented, "Taking Leave of a Friend" by Shen Yiwen, was the most traditional.

The New York Times - Arts

For 35 years he had been an executive of Macy's, taking leave for duty during WWII.

The New York Times

He is taking leave from academia to work on the vaccines.

The Guardian

Beneschott completed just one year at Princeton before taking leave to work on Admish, which is based in Princeton.

Princeton University

She tells me she is taking leave of absence from studies, to help me with company full time.

The New Yorker

In November, Barrera Mayén was killed after taking leave to spend time at home with his family.

The Washington Post

In a conversation with The Post's Josh Rogin, Page says he is taking leave of the Trump campaign.

The Washington Post

"We are not being curmudgeonly," said Mr Alambritis, who noted that workers were taking leave from their annual holiday entitlement.

The Guardian - Business

Mazières is taking leave from Stanford to work four days a week on the project as Stellar's chief scientist.

MIT Technology Review

While she was still taking leave from the Mariinsky Theatre, she danced in New York City and London in 1910 with Mikhail Mordkin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the formality of "taking leave". In professional contexts, it is appropriate, but in casual conversation, alternatives like "taking time off" may be more suitable.

Common error

Avoid using "taking leave" when you mean to grant leave to someone else. For example, instead of "The manager is taking leave to the employees", say "The manager is granting leave to the employees" or "The manager is allowing the employees to take leave".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking leave" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often serving as part of a continuous verb form. It describes the action of departing or going on leave. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "taking leave" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase indicating a temporary departure or absence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English. As Ludwig examples show, it is commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When writing, it's important to consider the reason and duration of the leave to avoid ambiguity. The phrase is generally neutral in tone, making it suitable for professional communication. Related phrases include "going on leave" and "taking a break", offering alternatives with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a leave of absence

A more formal and explicit statement of taking time off.

going on leave

Focuses on the act of starting a period of absence.

taking time off

A more general term for taking a break from work or other responsibilities.

taking a break

Implies a temporary cessation of activity for rest or recuperation.

going away

General term for departing from a place.

taking a sabbatical

Specifically refers to an extended leave, often for academic pursuits.

stepping down temporarily

Suggests a temporary relinquishment of a position.

vacating one's post

Suggests leaving a position or duty, often temporarily.

going on furlough

Implies a mandatory temporary leave, often due to economic reasons.

absenting oneself

A more formal way of saying someone is not present.

FAQs

How is "taking leave" generally used in a sentence?

"Taking leave" usually describes someone departing or being absent from a place or duty, often temporarily. For example, "He is "taking leave" to care for his family".

What are some alternative phrases to "taking leave"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "going on leave", "taking a break", or "taking a leave of absence".

When is it appropriate to use "taking leave" instead of "taking a vacation"?

"Taking leave" is a more formal term that can apply to various reasons for absence, including personal matters or medical reasons, while "taking a vacation" specifically refers to time off for leisure.

What's the difference between "taking leave" and "quitting"?

"Taking leave" implies a temporary absence with the intention of returning, while "quitting" means permanently leaving a job or position.