while on holiday

USAGE SUMMARY

"while on holiday" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
You can use it to describe any action that is taking place while someone is on vacation, usually for recreational purposes. For example: "While on holiday, we spent most of our time relaxing on the beach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But I did this while on holiday in Magaluf, where women sunbathing topless is relatively common.

The Guardian

While on holiday there was an earthquake.

The Guardian - Money

Maria designed the table while on holiday in Bali.

Independent

In Mallorca, this can be achieved safely while on holiday.

The Guardian - Travel

"I'm expecting to see it on a T-shirt while on holiday," he says.

The Guardian

While on holiday in Lanzarote I twisted my knee and went to the local health centre.

Independent

Then, worst of all, Cole was diagnosed with malaria, contracted while on holiday in Tanzania.

Independent

I had once had a riding lesson while on holiday there.

The Guardian

Discussions about working while on holiday often neglect to mention the impact it has on families.

Independent

He later tweeted while on holiday: "I was reckless and deserved every punishment I received.

The Guardian - Sport

An experienced British surfing teacher has drowned in an accident while on holiday in Bali.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while on holiday" to clearly indicate that an action or event occurred during a vacation, adding context to the situation. For example, "While on holiday, I learned to surf."

Common error

Avoid using "while on holiday" when you actually mean during a specific holiday like Christmas or Easter. Use "during Christmas" or "over the Easter holiday" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while on holiday" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying the time during which an action occurs. Ludwig shows that it's used to provide temporal context to events, indicating they happened during a vacation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "while on holiday" is a grammatically correct and very common way to indicate that something occurred during a vacation. Ludwig AI classifies it as grammatically correct. It's used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. The phrase functions as an adverbial phrase, providing temporal context. While perfectly acceptable, you can use alternatives like "on vacation" or "during my vacation" for variety. Be mindful not to confuse it with specific holiday events. Overall, it’s a clear and effective phrase for indicating events that occur during one's time off.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on holiday

Synonymous to "on vacation" especially used in British English.

whilst on holiday

Replaces "while" with the more formal "whilst", which gives a more formal tone.

on vacation

Shortens the expression, focusing solely on the state of being on vacation.

during my vacation

Replaces "while on holiday" with a more general term for vacation time. "My vacation" offers a more direct and personal tone.

during vacation

Omits "my" making the phrase more general.

during the holidays

Focuses on the plural "holidays", suggesting a festive or extended vacation period.

while vacationing

Emphasizes the activity of vacationing, using a present participle.

when vacationing

Transforms the phrase into a gerund phrase, emphasizing the act of taking a vacation.

during my trip

Replaces "holiday" with "trip", suggesting a more specific journey or excursion.

during a getaway

Uses "getaway" to describe a short or spontaneous vacation.

FAQs

How can I use "while on holiday" in a sentence?

You can use "while on holiday" to describe activities or events that happen during a vacation, such as "While on holiday, we visited several historical sites."

What's the difference between "on holiday" and "on vacation"?

The phrases "on holiday" and "on vacation" are interchangeable, but "on holiday" is more common in British English, while "on vacation" is more common in American English.

Can I say "whilst on holiday" instead of "while on holiday"?

Yes, "whilst on holiday" is a grammatically correct and more formal alternative to "while on holiday".

What are some alternative ways to say "while on holiday"?

Alternatives include "during my vacation", "during the holidays", or simply "on holiday", depending on the context.