Depart vs You be gone

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Depart

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

You be gone

InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: DepartMost common: Depart
 DepartYou be gone
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dɪˈpɑːt//🇺🇸 //dɪˈpɑrt//🇬🇧 //juː bi ɡɒn//🇺🇸 //ju bi ɡɔn//
MeaningTo leave a placeA way to say someone should leave or go away.
ExampleThe train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM.When the party got too loud, she shouted, 'You be gone!'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsdepart from the norm, depart for a destination, depart on scheduleyou be gone for good, you be gone now, I wish you be gone
Antonymsarrive, stay, remain-
Common mistakesUsing 'depart' with 'from' instead of just the destination, Confusing it with 'leave', Not using it in the correct tenseIncorrectly use 'you' as 'yous' when addressing more than one person., Say 'you be go' instead of 'you be gone'., Forget that it's informal and use it in formal discussions.
Usage notesUse 'depart' in formal contexts or travel-related discussions. Less common in casual dialogue.Used informally to tell someone to leave; often in a playful or emphatic tone. Not suitable for formal contexts.

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You be gone

Frequently asked questions: Depart vs You be gone

What's the difference between Depart and You be gone?

Depart: To leave a place You be gone: A way to say someone should leave or go away.

Which is more formal: Depart and You be gone?

Depart is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Depart and You be gone?

Depart is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Depart: The train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM. You be gone: When the party got too loud, she shouted, 'You be gone!'

Can I use Depart and You be gone interchangeably?

Not always. Depart and You be gone are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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