apply for a leave vs apply for leave

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Apply for a leave' is less common and may sound a bit awkward. 'Apply for leave' is the more commonly used and accepted phrase.

Last updated: March 30, 2024

apply for a leave

This phrase is technically correct but less common in everyday English.

This phrase is used when referring to a specific type of leave, such as 'a sick leave' or 'a maternity leave.' It is less commonly used in everyday conversation.

Examples:

I need to apply for a sick leave next week.
She applied for a maternity leave six months in advance.

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The Commission intends to apply for leave to file an amicus curiae brief in those proceedings.
In many Member States, the public is struggling with the notion that the husband can also apply for parental leave.
A staff member who is a candidate for elective public office shall apply for leave on personal grounds for a period not exceeding three months.
Unless there are strong reasons not to intervene, the EDPS shall apply for leave to intervene if formally invited to do so by the Court.
should be required to apply for leave on personal grounds; or
Dawn Clough is going to apply for leave to appeal for me.
In addition, DG Competition has developed specific rules and guidelines on assignments and outside activities of officials and former officials, including when officials apply for Leave on Personal Ground.
If, however, an official applies for such leave in order to be able:
The EDPS shall apply for leave to intervene in proceedings if the case is of general data protection importance or if the EDPS has been directly involved in the facts of the case in the performance of supervisory tasks.
In particular it stressed that the measure is imputable to Germany, as Directive 89/105 merely lays down a procedural requirement to foresee the possibility to apply for exemptions but leaves the decision whether to ever grant such exemptions to the Member States.
Furthermore, Article 12b of the Staff Regulations on outside activities applies during leave on personal grounds as well'.
This also means necessarily that there cannot be discrimination, not just between Member States, but also between the types of activity that those who wish to apply for this leave wish to carry out.
This obligation shall also apply after those people leave office or employment.
The same applies to paternity leave, Mr Tarabella, and I am in favour.
As of 1 January 2017 the MRLs shall apply also to kohlrabi leaves.
Members of staff who intend to stand for public office shall notify the ECB, which shall decide, having regard to the interest of the service, whether the member of staff concerned: (a) should be required to apply for leave on personal grounds;
This obligation shall also apply after those people leave office or employment or after the termination of the activities of those bodies.
The same entitlement shall apply when staff members leave the service of the Centre and return to the country where they were in post before joining the Centre.
The six - week period of compulsory maternity leave shall apply to all working women regardless of the number of days worked prior to confinement.
Okay, but is it possible that maybe she just didn't apply enough force to leave an abrasion on the other stab wounds?

Alternatives:

apply for leave
request a leave
take a leave
ask for a leave
apply for time off

apply for leave

This is the more commonly used and accepted phrase in English.

This phrase is the standard way to express the action of requesting time off from work or school without specifying a particular type of leave.