when it departs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when it departs" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the moment something leaves or goes away, often in contexts related to transportation or events. Example: "Make sure to arrive at the station on time, as the train will leave promptly when it departs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

But when it departs on its first test flight — as early as Tuesday — the Heavy, with its three boosters and 27 engines, will be the most powerful working rocket out there today, by a factor of two.

The Washington Post

But the Court cannot be right when it departs from those principles without benefit of argument in a matter of such importance.

Cornell University

The UK premiere of Pound's Le Testament de Villon (1926) brought to mind Pound's own words: "music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance".

The Guardian - Music

These center on how long such a heavy military presence can be sustained on urban streets, and what happens when it departs.

The New York Times

Miliband's push has attracted cross-party support from MPs alarmed at May's indication that the UK is likely to leave the EU's single market when it departs the bloc.

The Guardian

The Jules Verne is to spend about four months docked to the station, with astronauts removing its cargo and depositing tons of waste material that will burn up in the atmosphere with the spacecraft when it departs.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Because of a lottery system used by Northern Alliance officials, his crew was not allowed to board the helicopter with him when it departed for Afghanistan from Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The New York Times - Tech

Police wouldn't allow the march to come near the synagogue, and Trump's motorcade took a different route when it departed for a hospital, where the president visited police officers wounded in the shooting.

The Washington Post

Alan Hicks, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is in charge of major shipping operations in the New York harbor, said last night that it could not be determined when or if the ship docked in New York or when it departed.

The New York Times

As I was imagining who else I could toss in, Emmett was the first person that occurred to me, and I was immediately more interested in writing about him than in coming up with other new characters and this is the moment that my draft started to become a story, when it departed from the model that had enabled me to begin writing it.

The New Yorker

Again, John Maynard Keynes – an admirer of Malthus who believed economics took a wrong turn when it departed from his work – suggested in his famous essay on "Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren" (1930) that more than enough wealth could be produced to satisfy human needs, but only if human numbers were stabilised by humane methods of birth control.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when it departs" to clearly indicate a specific moment or condition related to something leaving. It is suitable for describing scheduled departures or the end of a process.

Common error

Avoid using "when it departs" interchangeably with phrases that imply a continuous action or state. "While it is departing" suggests an ongoing process, whereas "when it departs" indicates a specific point in time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when it departs" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when an action or event occurs. Ludwig confirms that it is a valid and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when it departs" serves as a temporal marker, precisely pinpointing the moment of departure in relation to another event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently employed, particularly in news, science, and wiki contexts. Its neutral tone and varied application make it a valuable tool for clear and effective communication. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "upon its departure" or "as it leaves" to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the moment it departs

Adds emphasis to the exact time of departure.

upon its departure

Formal alternative emphasizing the moment of leaving.

once it has left

Focuses on the state after leaving.

as soon as it departs

Implies immediacy related to the departure.

as it leaves

Simple alternative focusing on the action of leaving.

after its departure

Highlights the period following the departure.

at its exit

Emphasizes the act of exiting or leaving a place.

on its way out

Informal, suggesting the process of leaving.

when it is gone

Focuses on the state of being absent.

when it goes

Simple and direct alternative.

FAQs

How to use "when it departs" in a sentence?

Use "when it departs" to refer to a specific time or condition related to something leaving, such as "Ensure all passengers are onboard when it departs."

What can I say instead of "when it departs"?

You can use alternatives like "upon its departure", "as it leaves", or "at its exit" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "when it departs" or "while it is departing"?

"When it departs" refers to a specific moment, while "while it is departing" suggests an ongoing process. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "when it departs" and "after it departs"?

"When it departs" indicates the exact moment of departure, whereas "after it departs" refers to the period following the departure.