was on sick leave

USAGE SUMMARY

"was on sick leave" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone who has taken a period of time away from their work due to an illness. For example, "John was on sick leave for two weeks after coming down with the flu."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

(FM06) In one facility, two nurses were absent, one was on sick leave and the other went for training.

Health Policy and Planning

Two extracts from notes taken during discussions with the participating FMs about these incidents illuminate how relationship issues affect daily work: In one facility, two nurses were absent, one was on sick leave and the other went for training.

Health Policy and Planning

Fifteen informants (eight men and seven women) worked before the injury occurred, two were retired and one was on sick leave.

BMC Nursing

Of these, 2 patients had received disability pension due to other reasons (fibromyalgia, n = 1 and one low back pain, n = 1) and one patient was on sick leave due to surgery in the contra lateral knee).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

David Letterman was on sick leave.

The New York Times - Arts

Worse, it turned out a second psychiatrist in the area was also retiring, and another was on sick leave.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Additionally, persons on long-term sickness absence experienced the process of being on sick leave as very negative [ 34].

BMC Family Practice

Gillispie has been on sick leave since.

The New York Times - Sports

Ten others are on sick leave.

The New York Times

All were on sick leave and had been given classical treatments, including anesthetic blocks.

Douleurs : Evaluation - Diagnostic - Traitement

The two officers, he said, were on sick leave yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "was on sick leave", ensure the context clearly indicates the duration or reason for the leave if relevant. For example, "He "was on sick leave" for two weeks due to the flu".

Common error

Avoid using "was on sick leave" when the absence is for reasons other than illness, such as vacation or personal time. Use more appropriate phrases like "was on vacation" or "was on personal leave" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was on sick leave" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the state of a person being temporarily absent from work due to illness. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

45%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was on sick leave" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that someone was temporarily absent from work or other duties due to illness or injury. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and Ludwig's examples show it appearing frequently in news, scientific publications, and general writing. While the phrase is generally neutral, more formal or informal alternatives may be suitable depending on the specific context. When using "was on sick leave", ensure the reason for the leave and its duration are clear if relevant. Common related phrases include "was taking sick leave" and "was absent due to illness".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was taking sick leave

Focuses on the action of taking leave, rather than the state of being on leave.

was absent due to illness

More formal and explicitly states the reason for absence.

was off work sick

Common, informal way to express being absent from work due to illness.

was incapacitated due to sickness

Emphasizes the inability to work due to illness.

was recovering from an illness

Highlights the recovery aspect of the sick leave.

was out of office ill

Formal and specific to office environments.

had taken time off for health reasons

A more general way to indicate absence for health-related issues.

was excused from duties due to sickness

Formal and emphasizes the permission granted for absence.

was temporarily disabled

Focuses on the temporary inability to perform tasks.

was indisposed

A more euphemistic and formal way to indicate illness.

FAQs

What does "was on sick leave" mean?

The phrase "was on sick leave" indicates that someone was absent from work or their regular duties due to illness or injury, with permission from their employer or institution.

What can I say instead of "was on sick leave"?

You can use alternatives like "was taking sick leave", "was absent due to illness", or "was off work sick" depending on the context.

Is "was on sick leave" formal or informal?

The phrase "was on sick leave" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "was absent due to illness" might be preferred in professional settings.

How do I use "was on sick leave" in a sentence?

You can use "was on sick leave" to describe a past situation where someone was absent from work due to illness. For example, "She "was on sick leave" for a month after her surgery".