took a leave

USAGE SUMMARY

"took a leave" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express someone taking time off from work or school, or taking a vacation: My boss took a leave to go on a cruise with his family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(He took a leave from Harvard).

The New York Times

He took a leave of absence "to do research".

The New Yorker

I took a leave from Harvard and went home.

The New York Times

Dan took a leave of absence from work.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Aksyonenko suddenly took a leave of absence.

The New York Times

He took a leave of absence to enter drug rehabilitation.

The Guardian

To train for the Olympics, Ms. Park took a leave of absence from medical school.

Columbia University

He left the church and took a leave of absence from MIT after failing Unified Engineering.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Sclafani recently took a leave from Downstate to do research.

The New York Times - Health

After a discussion with Amos Schocken, in early 2008, Hass took a leave of absence.

The New Yorker

Dr. Sclafani recently took a leave from his position to do research.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "took a leave", specify the reason for the leave to provide context, such as "took a leave for medical reasons" or "took a leave to pursue a personal project".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "leave". For example, it's correct to say "took a leave of absence" or "took a leave from work", not "took a leave at absence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took a leave" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of temporarily departing from a job, school, or other regular activity. Ludwig confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took a leave" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that someone has temporarily departed from their regular duties or activities. Ludwig confirms the phrase's usability and correctness. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it indicates an authorized absence for reasons like health, personal projects, or family care. Alternatives include "went on leave" and "began a leave of absence". When using the phrase, specify the reason for clarity, and remember the correct prepositional usage (e.g., "leave from" work).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went on leave

Focuses on the action of starting a leave period rather than the taking.

began a leave of absence

More formal and emphasizes the official nature of the absence.

stepped away from duties

Highlights the relinquishing of responsibilities, can be temporary or permanent.

was granted leave

Focuses on the permission or authorization for the leave.

took time off

More general and can refer to any kind of break, not necessarily an official leave.

resigned temporarily

Emphasizes a temporary cessation of employment.

ceased working temporarily

Highlights a temporary halt in labor activities.

suspended duties

Emphasizes the temporary halting of responsibilities.

went on sabbatical

Refers specifically to a longer period of leave, often for academic or professional development.

absented oneself

Formal and emphasizes the act of being away.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "took a leave"?

Saying someone "took a leave" means they have temporarily stopped working or attending school, often with permission or an official reason such as illness, family matters, or personal pursuits.

What are some common reasons for someone to "take a leave"?

People might "take a leave" for various reasons, including medical treatment, parental leave, sabbatical for research, personal projects, or to care for family members.

What can I say instead of "took a leave of absence"?

You can use alternatives like "went on leave", "began a leave of absence", or "took time off depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "take a leave from" a job or "take a leave of" a job?

It's more common and grammatically correct to say "take a leave from" a job or position. You can also say "take a leave of absence" where "absence" is a noun.