when she returns to work

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "when she returns to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when your sentence is referring to something that will occur after the subject of the sentence returns to work. For example: "She'll be able to answer your questions when she returns to work next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The rosy-cheeked Melissa Felteau, a hard-charging public relations executive, sinks into despair when she returns to work after a head injury and no longer knows which key opens her office door.

The New York Times - Books

For Cisco, her enhanced skills in collaboration and negotiation not only will enhance her performance when she returns to work, but may also enable her to generate future business.

Forbes

When she returns to work, she will be entitled to take 2 hours off each day until her baby is a year old to ease the burden of finding child care and encouraging the continuation of breast feeding.

Huffington Post

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, due back at work Monday after six days behind bars, has said her beliefs as an Apostolic Christian prevent her from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and her attorneys have said the 49-year-old woman will not violate her conscience when she returns to work.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The complaints of bullying surfaced when she returned to work later the same year.

Independent

When she returned to work she was demoted to a job involving primarily manual labour.

The Guardian - Money

Her emotional recuperation began in earnest, she says, when she returned to work.

The Guardian

When she returned to work, she used her own employer's insurance.

The New York Times

When she returned to work, she found that the directing jobs had dried up.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Miriam O'Reilly has said she faced "seething resentment" when she returned to work at the BBC after winning an age discrimination case against the corporation.

Independent

Ms. Soto said that when she returned to work, her boss said that her old job was no longer available, but that she could work as a cleaner.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "when she returns to work", ensure the context clearly indicates who "she" refers to, especially in longer or more complex sentences. This maintains clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "when she returns to work" if the return is uncertain. In such cases, consider alternatives like "if she returns to work" or "should she return to work" to accurately reflect the conditional nature of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when she returns to work" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause of a sentence. It indicates the specific time or condition under which the action in the main clause will occur. This function is consistent with the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when she returns to work" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial clause indicating a future time or condition tied to a woman's return to her job. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, while the example sentences illustrate its usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives exist, such as "upon her return to work" or "after she returns to work", this option is suitable for conveying neutral and direct statements about events scheduled when a woman returns to her occupation. Remember to be specific about the individual described by "she" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon her return to work

Formal alternative using a prepositional phrase to indicate the timing.

when she is back at work

More conversational, using "back at work" instead of "returns".

on her resumption of work

Very formal and emphasizes the act of resuming work.

after her return to the job

Replaces "work" with "the job", focusing on a specific position.

once she is working again

Focuses on the state of being employed again.

following her comeback to work

Uses "comeback" to emphasize a return after a significant absence.

as she reintegrates into the workplace

Focuses on the process of becoming part of the work environment.

subsequent to her return to employment

Highly formal and emphasizes the state of being employed.

when she's back in the office

More specific, referring to a return to a physical office space.

when she starts working again

Simple and direct, focusing on the action of starting work.

FAQs

How can I use "when she returns to work" in a sentence?

The phrase "when she returns to work" introduces a condition or a timeframe related to a future event. For example, "We will discuss the project details "when she returns to work" next week."

What are some alternatives to "when she returns to work"?

Alternatives include "upon her return to work", "after she returns to work", or "once she is back at work". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. For example, the phrase "upon her return to work" sounds a bit more formal.

Is it better to say "when she returns to work" or "when she will return to work"?

Using the simple present tense "when she returns to work" is generally preferred for future events in clauses introduced by "when". The form using "will" is not incorrect but less common. For example, "I'll give her the message "when she returns to work"."

What's the difference between "when she returns to work" and "after she returns to work"?

"When she returns to work" implies something will happen at the moment of her return. "After she returns to work" suggests it will happen sometime following her return, but not necessarily immediately. Context dictates which is more appropriate. "We'll celebrate "after she returns to work"" implies sometime after her first day back.