their leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

'their leaving' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is a possessive pronoun form of the verb 'leave', used to refer to something that someone else had done. Example: When I heard about their leaving, I was very sad.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Did I blink and miss their leaving party?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And when you think about it, it's probably better than their leaving with half our stuff.

The New York Times

Nothing quite becomes England in major tournaments as their leaving of them.

The Guardian - Sport

The probability of their leaving is very high during these seconds.

The Guardian - Tech

But they're also plainly obsessed with the implications of their leaving the team.

The New York Times - Arts

If they tell me that their leaving was "mutual," that's a signal that there is more to the story.

The New York Times

Much to the band members' surprise, the Firm did not put up much resistance to their leaving.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

To their left, Al Oerter sat between Billy Mills and Coach Mel Rosen.

The New York Times - Sports

To their left a piper played furiously.

The Guardian

Quarks Know Their Left From Their Right.

Science Magazine

All of their left renal arteries were extracted.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "their leaving", ensure the context clearly establishes who 'their' refers to, especially in complex sentences.

Common error

Avoid mistaking "their leaving" (possessive pronoun indicating someone's action of leaving) with a grammatically incorrect construction using "there". "There" cannot be used in this possessive context. For example, "Their leaving was unexpected" is correct; "There leaving was unexpected" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "their leaving" is a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It can serve as the subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "their leaving" functions as a gerund phrase, commonly used to denote someone's departure. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread application across diverse contexts, including news, scientific reports, and formal communications. While generally neutral in tone, the specific context influences the overall formality. Alternatives such as "their departure" or "their exit" offer similar meanings, depending on the desired nuance. Remember to ensure clarity in specifying who "their" refers to and avoid the common error of confusing it with "there leaving".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their departure

Replaces the gerund "leaving" with the noun "departure", maintaining a formal tone.

their exit

Uses a more concise noun, "exit", emphasizing the act of going out or away.

them leaving

Employs a pronoun + gerund structure, subtly shifting the emphasis.

their withdrawal

Implies a deliberate pulling back or retreat from a situation.

their abandonment

Suggests a more abrupt or complete relinquishment.

their going away

Emphasizes the act of leaving on a journey or trip, often with emotional connotations.

when they left

Transforms the phrase into a clause, specifying a time of departure.

after they had left

Uses a past perfect construction to emphasize the completion of the action.

their resignation

Specifically denotes formally quitting a job or position.

their evacuation

Refers to leaving because of emergency or mandatory procedure.

FAQs

How can I use "their leaving" in a sentence?

"Their leaving" can act as a subject: "Their leaving surprised everyone". It can be part of a prepositional phrase: "We discussed the implications of "their leaving"". Or it can be used to indicate cause: "Due to "their leaving", the project stalled".

What phrases are similar to "their leaving"?

Alternatives include "their departure", "their exit", or "them leaving". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "their leaving" formal or informal?

"Their leaving" is generally neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The surrounding language will often determine the overall tone.

Which is correct, "their leaving" or "there leaving"?

"Their leaving" is correct. "Their" is a possessive pronoun, showing that the act of leaving belongs to them. "There leaving" is grammatically incorrect.