was away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was not present at a location for a period of time. Example: "She was away on vacation for two weeks and just returned yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Dimson was away.

The New Yorker

He was away.

The New York Times - Magazine

McDowell was away.

The New York Times - Sports

(Emma was away visiting).

Encyclopedia Britannica

I was away four years.

The New Yorker

While he was away, Maj.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I was away in Manchester.

The New Yorker

(Mrs. Kennedy, conveniently, was away).

The New York Times

(Mr. Nicholson was away).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Hamish McRae is away.

Independent

But Odysseus is away.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was away" to clearly indicate someone's temporary absence from a place or situation. This phrase is versatile and understandable in most contexts. For example, "The manager was away on a business trip, so I handled the meeting."

Common error

Avoid using "was away" when you mean someone has permanently left or is no longer associated with a place or role. Use phrases like "had left", "was no longer here", or "had moved on" instead. For example, avoid saying "He was away from the company" if he resigned; instead, say "He had left the company".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was away" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of absence in the past. Ludwig examples confirm its usage to describe someone being absent from a location or event for a period of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Encyclopedias

9%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was away" is a versatile phrase used to describe a temporary absence in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in most situations, avoid using it to describe permanent departures; instead, opt for more appropriate alternatives like "had left". Remember that "was away" describes an absence in the past, while "is away" describes a present absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was absent

Replaces "away" with a more formal synonym, focusing on the state of not being present.

was on vacation

Specifies that the person was away for leisure or travel.

was out of town

Specifies the reason for being away, indicating travel outside the local area.

was traveling

Emphasizes the act of traveling as the reason for being away

was on leave

Implies a formal period of absence, such as from work or school.

was abroad

Specifies that the person was in another country.

was not present

A more formal and direct way of stating someone's absence.

was off-site

Indicates being away from a specific location, often a workplace.

was unavailable

Focuses on the inability to reach or contact the person.

had left

Indicates that the person departed from a specific location

FAQs

How can I use "was away" in a sentence?

Use "was away" to indicate a temporary absence. For example: "She "was away" on vacation", or "He "was away" on business".

What can I say instead of "was away"?

You can use alternatives like "was absent", "was out of town", or "was on leave" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was away" or should I use "is away"?

Use "was away" to refer to a past absence. Use "is away" to describe a current absence. For instance, "He "was away" last week" (past) versus "He "is away" this week" (present).

What's the difference between "was away" and "had been away"?

"Was away" indicates a simple past absence. "Had been away" indicates an absence that occurred before another point in the past. Example: "He "was away" last week" (simple past). "He "had been away" for a month before the incident occurred" (past perfect).