when he departed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when he departed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the moment someone left or went away, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "The atmosphere changed significantly when he departed, leaving a palpable silence in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ronald Reagan was popular when he departed, despite Iran-contra.

The New York Times

Boos came down when he departed in the fourth, with the Mets behind 6-0.

The New Yorker

Also, a cassette copy of a recording of Schurman's speech given when he departed as ambassador from Germany.

Cornell University

When he departed, he was owed money but he was glad just to have escaped.

The Guardian - Sport

However, the statement pointedly failed to echo the warm words offered to Fraser when he departed.

The Guardian

Watson was worn out when he departed and was concerned about his health.

The New York Times - Sports

When he departed in the dying minutes, the fans chanted his name.

The Guardian - Sport

The local newspaper invariably lauded his talents and social skills, and expressedsincere regret when he departed.

The New York Times - Books

Westwood was fourth in the world when he departed for the United States at the back end of 2012.

Independent

When he departed, a risk had to be taken on "Tonight" for the first time in thirty years.

The New Yorker

If they did not progress, it was not because of him and when he departed most understood.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when he departed" to clearly indicate a specific point in time related to someone's leaving. It works well in narrative contexts where you want to emphasize the events surrounding the departure.

Common error

While "departed" is a valid synonym for "left", avoid using "when he departed" in very informal or casual conversation. It can sound overly formal or stilted in those settings. Consider using simpler alternatives like "when he left" or "after he left".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he departed" functions as an adverbial clause of time. It specifies the timing of an event in relation to the subject's departure, as supported by Ludwig's examples, where it introduces circumstances concurrent with or immediately following the departure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when he departed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial clause indicating the time of someone's departure. According to Ludwig, it functions to provide temporal context and is commonly found in neutral to slightly formal contexts such as news articles, academic papers, and encyclopedias. While it is a valid phrase, simpler alternatives like "when he left" may be more appropriate in informal settings. The high expert rating reflects its grammatical soundness and prevalent usage across authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon his leaving

Replaces the "when" clause with a prepositional phrase using "upon" and the gerund "leaving".

at the time of his departure

Emphasizes the specific moment of leaving using a more formal noun phrase.

on his departure

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the time of leaving.

as he left

Simplifies the sentence structure with a basic past tense verb.

when he exited

Substitutes "departed" with the synonym "exited".

at his exit

Uses a noun phrase to describe the action of leaving.

following his departure

Highlights the sequence of events, with his departure as the starting point.

subsequent to his leaving

A more formal way of expressing the sequence of events after someone's departure.

after he had gone

Uses a past perfect tense to emphasize the completion of the action.

once he was gone

Emphasizes the state of being absent after the departure.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "when he departed"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "upon his departure" or "at the time of his departure".

Is "when he departed" interchangeable with "when he left"?

While similar, "departed" is generally more formal than "left". Using "when he left" is perfectly acceptable and often preferred in less formal contexts.

How can I use "when he departed" in a sentence?

You can use "when he departed" to describe events that happened around the time someone left. For example, "The atmosphere changed significantly "when he departed", leaving a palpable silence in the room".

What are some alternatives to "when he departed" to vary my writing?

To add variety, try using phrases like "as he left", "following his departure", or "after he had gone" depending on the context.