were leaving from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were leaving from" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "we're leaving from" or "we are leaving from," where "we're" is a contraction of "we are." Example: "We're leaving from the airport at 5 PM."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The officers were leaving from afternoon until midnight.

The Guardian

Then it was up to NYC, where the buses were leaving from, and I wound up as a bus marshal.

The Guardian

"They were men who knew where they were leaving from but did not know their destination or whether they would reach it," Father Nastasi said.

The New York Times

Yes, Hilary, we bombed Hitler, but we were being attacked here by German planes that were leaving from Germany – not by a teenager in west London who had been assembling a Doodlebug in the garage.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Midtown, around Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Grand Central Terminal, crowds of weary commuters lined the curbs and most open spaces, and packed into areas where commuter buses were leaving from.

The New York Times

We were leaving from a town on the ass end of Colombia and Brazil called Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil).

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A Korean Air flight to Dubai would be leaving from Nadi International Airport in a few days.

The New Yorker

They are leaving from San Francisco, stopping off in Manila, then to Hong Kong.

The New Yorker

Then word spread that the train was leaving from Track 26 on the main concourse.

The New York Times

Contrary to the display screens, the next train to Pretoria was leaving from the opposite platform.

The Guardian

The bus was leaving from the Port Authority terminal in less than 12 minutes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a group's departure point, ensure correct subject-verb agreement and use the appropriate form of "be" (is, are, am) to match the subject. For instance, "they are leaving from" or "we are leaving from".

Common error

Avoid using "were leaving from" when the subject is singular or in the first person. Use "was leaving from" for singular past tense or reconstruct the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were leaving from" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of departing or exiting a specific location. Ludwig AI suggests it is not correct in standard written English. Examples show its use in various contexts, though often with grammatical issues.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were leaving from" is used to indicate a departure point, but Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Although found in diverse sources like news articles and online content, its usage is infrequent. For grammatically correct alternatives, consider phrases like "are departing from" or "are setting off from". When writing, verify that subject-verb agreement is correct to avoid grammatical errors. For a more polished and correct expression, you should favor alternatives that explicitly correct the tense and agreement issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are departing from

Uses a more formal verb, "departing", instead of "leaving", and corrects the verb conjugation.

are setting off from

Replaces "leaving" with "setting off", indicating the start of a journey.

are starting from

Focuses on the origin point, replacing "leaving" with "starting".

are heading out from

Uses a more casual phrase, "heading out", to indicate departure.

are going away from

Emphasizes the act of moving away from a place.

are moving on from

Suggests a transition or progression beyond a specific location.

are vacating from

Indicates the act of leaving a place empty.

are exiting from

Highlights the act of exiting or departing a place.

are pulling out from

Implies a more forceful or abrupt departure.

are commencing from

Replaces "leaving" with "commencing", indicating the beginning of a journey from a place.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "were leaving from"?

The correct way depends on the subject. Use "was leaving from" for a singular subject in the past tense, or "are leaving from" if referring to a plural subject in the present tense. Consider alternatives like "departing from" or "setting off from".

Is "were leaving from" grammatically correct?

No, "were leaving from" is often grammatically incorrect. The verb "were" does not agree with first-person singular subjects. The correct usage depends on the subject and tense. Alternatives include using "was leaving from" or rephrasing with "departed from".

How can I rephrase "were leaving from" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, replace "were leaving from" with phrases like "departing from", "commencing from", or "setting forth from". This adds a level of sophistication to your writing or speech.

What are some common mistakes when using phrases like "were leaving from"?

A common mistake is using the past tense "were" with a present tense context. Also, ensure the verb agrees with the subject (singular or plural). Alternatives include "are departing from" if it's current or rephrasing entirely for better clarity.