Passing vs. Passing Away – Which is Correct?
Both passing and passing away are correct English expressions, but they are not interchangeable. Passing usually describes movement, success, or an event of time, while passing away is a gentle euphemism for dying. Choose passing for movement or success; choose passing away when referring to death.
Passing or Passing Away – Which is Correct?
Passing and passing away are both valid expressions, but they have different meanings. Passing can refer to moving by, succeeding in an examination, transferring something, or the gradual movement of time. It may also refer to death in formal or literary contexts, although that use is less explicit.
This distinction also helps separate Passed vs. Past, since one describes completed action and the other refers to earlier time or position.
Passing away is a phrasal verb that means dying. It is commonly used as a softer, more considerate alternative to the direct verb dying, especially in conversations about someone’s death, obituaries, sympathy messages, and formal announcements.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the away test: if the sentence means that someone or something is moving away, passing an exam, or moving through time, use passing. If it means that a person has died, use passing away. The word away can help you remember the gentle idea of someone departing from life.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing | Verb form, noun, or adjective | Moving by, succeeding, transferring, or the passage of time | She is passing the library on her way home. |
| Passing away | Phrasal verb | Dying; a polite or indirect expression for death | The family announced that their grandmother had passed away. |
How to Use Passing
Passing is the present participle or gerund form of the verb pass. It has several meanings and is used in everyday, academic, professional, athletic, and literary contexts. It can describe physical movement, the transfer of an object, success in a test, the progression of time, or a brief encounter.
When passing refers to death, it is usually more formal, indirect, or literary than passing away. In ordinary conversation, passing away is generally clearer and more compassionate.
Example 1: The bus is passing the train station now.
Example 2: Maya celebrated passing her final examination.
Example 3: With the passing of time, the difficult memory became less painful.
Example 4: The athlete made a precise passing move during the final minutes of the match.
Etymology of the word passing
Passing comes from the verb pass, which entered Middle English through Old French passer. The word ultimately traces back to Late Latin passare, meaning “to pass” or “to go through.” Its many modern meanings developed from the central idea of movement from one place, condition, or point to another.
How to Use Passing Away
Passing away is a phrasal verb meaning “to die.” It is a euphemism, which means it communicates an unpleasant or painful idea in a gentler way. The expression is appropriate in condolences, memorial notices, family conversations, and respectful writing about a person’s death.
Because it is indirect, passing away may not be suitable when medical, legal, or emergency communication requires maximum clarity. In those contexts, died or deceased may be more precise.
Example 1: We were saddened to hear that Professor Ellis had passed away.
Example 2: Her relatives gathered to remember her after she passed away peacefully.
Example 3: The organization published a statement honoring its founder, who passed away at the age of ninety-two.
What are the different forms of passing away?
The phrase changes according to the tense and subject of the verb pass. Common forms include pass away, passes away, passed away, and passing away. For example, “He passed away last year” uses the past tense, while “She is passing away” describes a present situation and may sound especially sensitive or emotionally direct.
Etymology of the phrase passing away
The phrase combines pass, meaning to move or go, with away, meaning from a particular place or condition. English has long used movement imagery as a metaphor for death, suggesting that a person has departed from earthly life. This figurative meaning makes passing away a softer alternative to dying.
Related Concepts
Understanding euphemisms, phrasal verbs, and context-dependent meaning makes it easier to choose between passing and passing away.
- Euphemism: A euphemism replaces a direct or potentially upsetting expression with a gentler one. Passing away is a euphemism for dying.
- Phrasal verb: A phrasal verb combines a verb with an adverb or preposition to create a particular meaning. In passing away, the combination means dying rather than simply moving.
- Context: The surrounding words determine the meaning of passing. For example, “passing the exam” concerns success, while “passing away” concerns death.
- Gerund and present participle: The form passing can function as a noun, as in “Passing the test was difficult,” or as part of a verb phrase, as in “The car is passing the house.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples illustrate how these expressions commonly appear in books, films, journalism, and public communication:
- News reports: An obituary may state that a respected community leader “passed away peacefully,” using a conventional and respectful euphemism.
- Sports coverage: A commentator may describe “a successful passing play,” where passing refers to transferring or throwing a ball.
- Academic writing: A historical text may discuss “the passing of a law,” meaning that legislators approved or enacted it.
- Literary writing: A novel may refer to “the passing of the seasons,” using passing to describe the gradual movement of time.
- Film dialogue: Characters may say that a beloved relative “passed away,” choosing a compassionate expression when discussing bereavement.
Passing Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Moving | Going from one place or position to another |
| Progressing | Advancing through a process or period |
| Transferring | Giving or sending something to another person or place |
| Succeeding | Achieving the required result, especially in an examination |
| Brief | Lasting only a short time, as in “a passing interest” |
Passing Away Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Dying | Approaching or experiencing death; direct and clear |
| Died | A direct past-tense term indicating that someone is no longer alive |
| Passed on | A gentle euphemism for dying |
| Departed | A formal or literary term for someone who has died |
| Deceased | A formal adjective or noun meaning dead |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “passing away” grammatically correct?
Yes. Passing away is a grammatically correct phrasal verb that means dying. It is widely used as a polite and sensitive euphemism.
Question 2: Is “passing” a polite way to say someone died?
It can be, particularly in formal or literary expressions such as “the passing of a beloved parent.” However, passing away is more common and immediately recognizable when referring to death.
Question 3: Should I write “passing” or “passing away” in an obituary?
Both are possible, but passing away is usually clearer and more compassionate in an obituary. The noun phrase the passing of is also formal and appropriate, as in “the passing of a longtime member.”
Question 4: Can “passing away” mean leaving a place?
Usually no. In modern English, passing away almost always means dying. For physical movement, use expressions such as passing by, walking away, or leaving.
Conclusion
Passing and passing away are both correct, but they serve different purposes. Use passing for movement, success, transfer, or the progression of time. Use passing away as a respectful euphemism for dying. Pro Tip: Choosing precise, considerate wording—especially in professional or sensitive communication—strengthens your credibility and protects your reputation.
