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to take time off work vs to take time off from work

English translation: Both are corrrect; I prefer the first one.


19:02 Aug 20, 2009Login or register (free) for more options.
English to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics
English term or phrase: to take time off work vs to take time off from work
Which option is correct (or more correct) in written English?
Mateusz Pohoryles
Poland
Local time: 03:51
English translation:Both are corrrect; I prefer the first one.
Explanation:
Both these expressions are good English. So I would use the shorter one, without "from".
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:51
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +18Both are corrrect; I prefer the first one.
Jack Doughty
4 +6to take time off work
Melissa Mann
4... time off work ...mediamatrix


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
to take time off work


Explanation:
As much as possible, avoid double prepositions in English.

Melissa Mann
Brazil
Local time: 00:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: The asker wants to know which is correct. / I see. But there's nothing grammatically wrong with "time off from."
1 min
  -> Yes, and I opine 'to take time off work' is correct.
agree  Sherin Khullar
6 mins
  -> thank you
agree  Patricia Townshend
7 mins
  -> thank you
agree  Jeanette Phillips
1 hr
  -> thank you
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
6 hrs
  -> thank you
agree  · george ·
11 hrs
  -> thank you
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +18
Both are corrrect; I prefer the first one.


Explanation:
Both these expressions are good English. So I would use the shorter one, without "from".

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 145
Grading comment
Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger
0 min
  -> Thank you.
agree  Sherin Khullar
5 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Patricia Townshend
6 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Jessica Noyes: Yes, I although I prefer the second one.
20 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Jim Tucker: Would prefer the second as more logical. "Time off" exists as an independent unit. "Time off from what?""From work" -- but of course both are fine, you get my vote out of a protest against silly rules abt double prepositions //hehe
30 mins
  -> Thank you. I prefer to get out from under those rules too.
agree  Armorel Young: Yes, the "from" adds nothing at all, so on the basis that the simpler form is in principle to be preferred I'd go for the first one.
30 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Jeanette Phillips
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  Kathryn Litherland: I agree with Jim. Both are fine, but to me "time off work" sounds slightly more informal
1 hr
  -> Thank you. Yes, I think it does, but it's still correct English.
agree  David Knowles: Nobody's posited a UK/US difference, but I wonder if US accepts double prepositions more readily. "off of" springs to mind!
1 hr
  -> Thank you. You could be right.
agree  Judith Hehir: I actually prefer the second, though both are acceptable.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  kathy_phong: kathy_phong
2 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
6 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Phong Le
7 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  · george ·
11 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Andycarruk: The UK tends to be a little more prejudiced against double prepositions than the US so I'd vote for the first one, too.
14 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Phillippa Bennett
18 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Goldcoaster
22 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Demi Ebrite
1 day11 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
... time off work ...


Explanation:
Either is far better than the horrible 'off of work' so common in US English.

mediamatrix
Chile
Local time: 23:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
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