until they leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until they leave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame that continues up to the point when a specific group of people departs. Example: "We will continue the meeting until they leave the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There will be a struggle against them until they leave".

Independent

Child benefit to stay for children until they leave school.

The Guardian

"We'll be watching 24 hours a day until they leave".

The New York Times

Until they leave, Colonel Daniel warned them sternly, they have a difficult job to do.

The New York Times

Some could manage that quite early; others may have to plug away until they leave school.

The Economist

All is well until they leave to fetch their families, and then return becomes impossible.

The New York Times - Arts

Keep students from the age of five until they leave at ages 16 or 18.

Harvard Business Review

All too often companies do not know their employees are unhappy until they leave.

Harvard Business Review

Strauss's pasture-based calves are chaperoned by their mothers until they leave the farm.

The New York Times - Food

We don't talk about people in the room, we always wait until they leave".

The New York Times - Sports

It calls for withholding two weeks' salary from all county employees until they leave their jobs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until they leave" to clearly define a time period that lasts up to the moment of departure. This provides a straightforward temporal boundary.

Common error

Avoid using future tenses with "until they leave" when describing a past event. For instance, instead of saying "We will wait until they will leave", use "We waited until they left".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until they leave" functions as a temporal conjunction, introducing a clause that specifies the duration of an action or state up to the point of departure. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until they leave" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate a time frame that extends up to the point of someone's departure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and business writing. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that verb tenses are consistent and appropriate for the intended meaning. Alternatives such as "prior to their exit" or "before their departure" can add a more formal tone when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until their exit

Replaces the verb with a noun to describe the action.

up until their departure

Adds emphasis on the duration leading to the departure.

before their departure

Focuses on the act of departing, using a noun form instead of a verb phrase.

until their exit occurs

Adds formality by specifying that the exit 'occurs'.

prior to their exit

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate the time before someone exits.

pending their departure

Indicates that something is waiting to happen until the departure occurs.

leading up to their going

Emphasizes the period leading up to the moment of departure.

up to the time of their leaving

More verbose construction emphasizing the specific point in time.

before they go away

Simplifies the phrasing, using a more casual expression for 'leave'.

while they are still here

Focuses on the state of being present rather than the action of leaving.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "until they leave" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "prior to their departure" or "until their exit". These options replace everyday language with more sophisticated vocabulary.

Is there a difference between "until they leave" and "once they leave"?

"Until they leave" indicates a duration leading up to the moment of departure, while "once they leave" emphasizes the immediate aftermath or consequence of their departure.

What prepositions work well with "until they leave"?

Common prepositions used with "until they leave" include "wait until they leave", "stay until they leave", or "continue until they leave", each modifying the action being described.

What are some common mistakes people make when using "until they leave"?

A frequent error is using incorrect verb tenses or mixing future and present tenses. For example, avoid saying "until they will leave"; instead, use "until they leave".