AboutAndrew Russell Expertise You can try me on any point of grammar and structure, or on vocabulary. English comes alive most in its usage, and I am very experienced with questions of that kind. One of the pleasures of teaching second-language English is when a student raises a point that I have never had to think about before. I work in British English, but have enough knowledge of American and other variations to be able to help.
I'm afraid I don't have the time to to any proofreading, so would have to reject requests, and can't help with translations from other languages. Also, having two small children to keep me busy, questions asked at weekends may have to wait until Monday.
Experience I have been teaching English for 20 years, on and off, and now run my own small school attached to a theatre and arts centre in Chelsea, London.
Organizations NATFHE (lecturers' and teachers' union)
Education/Credentials University to BSc (Zoology)
Certificate in TEFL, but mostly educated on the job.
Past/Present Clients Literally hundreds of students over the years, as a teacher, many more as a Director of Studies, School Administrator and Director.
If you wish, you can check out my school at: www.theenglishschool.co.uk
But please don't use this to ask questions - that's what Allexperts is for.
Expert: Andrew Russell Date: 7/16/2008 Subject: Go out or go away
Question Hello Andrew
I have had a problem when I was speaking to a person.
A asked him a question and he said that he would call me later. As I was nor sure that I would be home in half an hour I asked him to call me during next thirty minutes because I might go out. I think it was not right because "go out" has a connotation of going to have fun. In fact I just meant that I would not be home. Please tell me what would you say in such occasion. May be I should have said something like "I may go in 30 min" or "I might be gone in 30 min" or "I might leave in 30 min". What about "I might go away in 30 min'?
Thank you for your time
Alex
Answer Dear Alex
'Go out' is a very common phrase and, yes, if you simply say it on it's own: "I'm going out" or "I'm going out tonight" then it does mean for relaxation, leisure purposes.
However, placed in a different context, as here, it would simply mean 'leaving the place where I am now'.
If you are at work, then it would mean exiting the building (or just your office) for 'proper' work purposes.
If you are at home, then it can mean a 'night on the town', or simply just on a short errand. To avoid the ambiguity you have spotted, it's probably best to 'add' to the sense of a temporary absence by using it in a continuous form, such as:
"I'll be going out in about 30 minutes."
It is, perhaps, wiser to avoid this 'minefield' of meanings, and use an alternative phrase, as you suggest. However, be careful, and note that each varies according to the contexts of 'work' and 'home'
If you are at work:
'Leave' means finishing work - it's a very 'final' word, so you wouldn't be coming back until tomorrow. Note that you can also 'leave your job' altogether, but this wouldn't implied in your example.
You wouldn't use 'leave' from home, unless you also specify the reason - again, 'leaving has that 'finality' about it, so the listener needs to be reassured that you don't mean leaving altogether. It's more commonly used in phrases such as 'leaving for work'. Note also that 'leaving home' means the big day when you no longer live with your parents, and start out in a home of your own - even if it's just a bedsit somewhere.
You wouldn't use 'away', in either context, as this would mean something like going on holiday - you won't be back for some time, and there is even the possibility that you won't be coming back at all. You can be 'away from your office' for just a short time, but it needs this whole phrase, and being 'away from home' definitely means 'on holiday/on a business trip'.
'Go' and 'be gone' also leave the question of 'gone where?'. From work, they suggest that you won't be coming back, at least until the next day - essentially, by itself, a 'go' phrase has to wait until a 'come' phrase appears. 'Be gone' also means: "you will have missed me".
'Go out' - away from it's extended leisure context - does mean just for a limited time, and that therefore you will 'be back' shortly, or at least within the same/working day; but as I said above, it's always better to avoid any ambiguity than to worry about perfect grammar and exact meanings.
