we departed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we departed for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating the destination or purpose of a departure. Example: "After a long wait, we departed for our vacation in Hawaii."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The next afternoon, we departed for Baghdad.

The New Yorker

On one of the next days we departed for Indian Spring Valley.

University of California, Berkeley

So we got married, and three weeks later we departed for the New World.

The New York Times - Science

We departed for the field just after Christmas and returned in time for the beginning of classes in January.

Yale University

After a few days we departed for Seward, a deepwater port on the other side of the Kenai Peninsula.

The Washington Post

When we departed for the rally later on in Rawalpindi, my bulletproof car was just behind hers.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Then they have another short rest followed by the final meeting at 1pm to go through the last plans before we depart for the ground.

Independent

Contact loved ones to say how much they mean to us before we depart for a vague location that we have never seen and have no direct evidence exists.

The New Yorker

That's your lot music fans as we depart for the weekend.

BBC

After an incredible time at the Center, we departed Uttarakhand for Jaipur, where we participated in a week's worth of intensive Hindi classes, and explored the ancient forts and palaces of the city.

Princeton University

With reluctance, we departed the boat for Long Bay Hotel, dry land seeming incomprehensibly dull, but within minutes of arriving at the resort, occupying most of a mile-long stretch of white sandy beach, our happiness was fully restored.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, avoid ambiguity by specifying the time of departure, especially if the destination is far or the journey complex.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "departed". While "we departed from" is correct when specifying the origin, use "we departed for" to indicate the destination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we departed for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a journey or trip towards a specific destination. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to express the action of leaving for a particular place.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

13%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we departed for" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to indicate the beginning of a journey towards a specific destination. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is commonly found in news articles and academic writing, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While many alternatives exist to add stylistic variation, it's essential to use the correct preposition ("for" when indicating the destination) to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we started off for

Similar to "set out for", emphasizing the beginning of the journey to a specific place.

we set out towards

Uses "set out" to emphasize the beginning of the journey, and "towards" to indicate direction rather than a specific destination.

we headed towards

Similar to "left in the direction of", indicating a general direction.

we left in the direction of

More descriptive, specifying the direction of travel instead of a direct destination.

we made our way to

Implies a journey with some effort or progress involved.

we embarked on a journey to

More formal and emphasizes the start of a significant trip.

we took off to

More informal, suggesting a quick or sudden departure.

we proceeded to

More formal, indicating a structured or orderly movement to a location.

we advanced to

Suggests moving forward to a place, but can also imply progress or a military advance.

we migrated to

Emphasizes a relocation or movement to a new region.

FAQs

What does "we departed for" mean?

The phrase "we departed for" means that a group of people (indicated by "we") left one place with the intention of going to a specific destination. It implies the beginning of a journey or trip.

What can I say instead of "we departed for"?

You can use alternatives like "we left for", "we set off for", or "we headed to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we departed to" instead of "we departed for"?

No, it is not grammatically correct to say "we departed to". The correct preposition to use when indicating the destination is "for". "We departed for" indicates the place you are going to.

What's the difference between "we departed from" and "we departed for"?

"We departed from" indicates the starting point of a journey, while "we departed for" indicates the destination. For example, "We departed from London" and "We departed for Paris".