Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
out of office vs out of the office
English answer:
out of the office
Added to glossary by
Zsuzsa Berenyi
Nov 19, 2009 16:18
14 yrs ago
63 viewers *
English term
Hungary
out of office vs out of the office
English
Bus/Financial
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
out of office note
I used to think that 'out of office' is an adverbial phrase that makes sense in 'out of office note' or 'out of office assistant', but as the predicate of a sentence, it should be with the definite article: 'I'm out of the office'.
Yet, I've come across the sentence 'I'm out of office' so many times that I'm not sure anymore. I'd like some proof of one or the other (perhaps both) being correct in the sentence stating that someone is not working.
Thanks a lot.
Zsuzsa
Yet, I've come across the sentence 'I'm out of office' so many times that I'm not sure anymore. I'd like some proof of one or the other (perhaps both) being correct in the sentence stating that someone is not working.
Thanks a lot.
Zsuzsa
Responses
| 3 +10 | out of the office |
Robert Forstag
|
| 4 +5 | out of the office |
Andrew Mason
|
| 3 +1 | See below. |
Yasutomo Kanazawa
|
Responses
+10
7 mins
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
40
Selected
out of the office
This would be the norm--in US and as far as I kno in UK English also.
"Out of office" could be used as an isolated phrase--say, a sign or note an employee leaves on their desk when they leave the office.
Neither phrase necessarily means the person is not working. It just means they are not in the office (i.e., they might be doing work away from the office).
"Out of office" could be used as an isolated phrase--say, a sign or note an employee leaves on their desk when they leave the office.
Neither phrase necessarily means the person is not working. It just means they are not in the office (i.e., they might be doing work away from the office).
Note from asker:
| Thanks and yes, you're right about the second part as well, the person could be working away from the office, I just wasn't thinking. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sheila Wilson
: You're right about BE - only correct to leave out "the" in note form and signs etc. Plus those who recently resigned from official responsibility eg an ex-mayor saying "I've been out of office for a month"
9 mins
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Thank you, Sheila. And important to note the usage you cite as well, which is also valid in US.
|
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| agree |
Jack Doughty
: Can confirm that this is so in UK English too.
10 mins
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Thanks, Jack.
|
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| agree |
Tony M
: Yes... I think the only way it could be used without 'the' is if it were "out-of-office" in quotes like that, so it once again is read as an adjectival phrase, like "I'm tired"
12 mins
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Thank you, Tony.
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| agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
16 mins
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Thanks, Jenni.
|
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| agree |
John Detre
: Why so distrustful of the responses on Hun>Eng? :-)
36 mins
|
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Thank you
|
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
1 hr
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Thank you, Marju.
|
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| agree |
Liam Hamilton
1 hr
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Thanks, Liam.
|
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| agree |
Rolf Keiser
1 hr
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Thanks, Gold.
|
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| agree |
Polangmar
1 hr
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Thanks, Pol.
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| agree |
Charlesp
12 hrs
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Thanks, Charlie.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you,Robert."
+5
6 mins
Andrew Mason
France
France
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
France
Pharma, scientific, business translation
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
out of the office
Your first thoughts - and paragraph - are correct. You need the article in the second example, but you can leave it out for the adverbial/adjectival phrase.
Note from asker:
| Thanks a lot. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jutta Scherer
: although I (being old-fashioned??) would spell the adjectival phrase like this: "out-of-office note"
10 mins
|
| agree |
Polangmar
1 hr
|
| agree |
JaneTranslates
: Agree with you and with Jutta. I know hyphens are being used less and less these days, but I would still use them here.
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Vicky Nash
: And Jutta - would always use the hyphens.
17 hrs
|
| agree |
suas888
: Charslesp is absolutely right! The use of the definite article has nothing to do with UK-US English. Its purpose is the same as in "in hospital/in the hospital" or "in prison/in the prison".
1755 days
|
+1
6 mins
Yasutomo Kanazawa
Japan
Japan
Works in field
Japan
Scientia est potentia
Native in: Japanese
Works in: English to Japanese, German to Japanese, Italian to Japanese, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
19
See below.
Out of office seems to be a set term used for emails, especially the subject for auto-replies (Out of office replies).
On the otherhand, out of the office would be something like "> I will be out of the office beginning Monday July 10th until Monday, July
> 24th traveling on business. During this period I will have limited access
> to emails. If you have an urgent issue, please contact Ralph Kaplan.
So, out of the office would be used in the context explaining to the sender that one would not be available for a certain period of time.
http://archives.free.net.ph/message/20060719.135303.b1c7ebc4...
On the otherhand, out of the office would be something like "> I will be out of the office beginning Monday July 10th until Monday, July
> 24th traveling on business. During this period I will have limited access
> to emails. If you have an urgent issue, please contact Ralph Kaplan.
So, out of the office would be used in the context explaining to the sender that one would not be available for a certain period of time.
http://archives.free.net.ph/message/20060719.135303.b1c7ebc4...
Note from asker:
| Thanks a lot. |
Discussion