Quick answer: The correct phrase is passed away. “Past away” is always incorrect because “past” cannot function as a verb. If you are writing an obituary, condolence message, or formal announcement, use “passed away” to indicate that someone has died.
I have edited thousands of manuscripts, from corporate press releases to personal memoirs, and I see this specific error constantly in draft emails and sympathy cards. The confusion stems from the fact that “passed” and “past” sound identical when spoken aloud, leading many writers to guess at the spelling based on phonetics rather than grammar. However, in written English, the distinction is absolute: one is a verb form indicating action, and the other is a noun, adjective, or preposition indicating time or position. Using the wrong term not only looks unprofessional but can also cause momentary confusion for the reader during a sensitive time.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Passed away | Correct phrasal verb meaning “died.” Use this for all formal and informal contexts regarding death. | Her grandfather passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. |
| Past away | Incorrect. This is a grammatical error. “Past” is never a verb. | Incorrect: He past away after a long illness. |
When to use passed away
You should use “passed away” whenever you need a gentle, respectful, or formal way to say that someone has died. It is a euphemism that softens the bluntness of the word “died,” making it ideal for condolences, obituaries, and professional announcements. Grammatically, “passed” is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb “to pass.” In this context, it functions as part of the phrasal verb “pass away,” which means to cease living.
The verb “to pass” has a long history of being used in relation to death, often implying a transition or movement from life to whatever follows. According to Wikipedia, the word “pass” has numerous definitions ranging from moving in a specified direction to transferring ownership, but its use in the context of death is one of its most established idiomatic applications. When you add the adverb “away,” it completes the idiom, suggesting a departure.
Here are three realistic examples of how I correct this in real-world editing scenarios:
- In a condolence email:
- Draft: “I was so sorry to hear that your aunt past away last week.”
- Correction: “I was so sorry to hear that your aunt passed away last week.”
- In a company-wide memo:
- Draft: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce our CEO, Mr. Smith, has past away.”
- Correction: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce our CEO, Mr. Smith, has passed away.”
- In a social media post:
- Draft: “Rest in peace to my dog who past away yesterday.”
- Correction: “Rest in peace to my dog who passed away yesterday.”
Notice that in every correct instance, “passed” ends with “-ed.” This is the standard marker for the past tense of regular verbs in English. If you can replace the phrase with “died” and the sentence still makes grammatical sense, you need the verb form “passed.”
When to use past away
You should never use “past away.” There is no context in standard English—whether American, British, Australian, or Canadian—where “past away” is grammatically acceptable. The word “past” is not a verb; it cannot describe an action. Therefore, it cannot be conjugated, and it cannot take the place of “passed” in any sentence structure.
The word “past” functions primarily as a noun, adjective, preposition, or adverb. As a noun, it refers to time gone by (e.g., “in the past”). As an adjective, it describes something that is finished or previous (e.g., “past events”). As a preposition, it indicates movement beyond a point (e.g., “walk past the store”). As an adverb, it means by or beyond (e.g., “the car drove past”). None of these definitions allow “past” to be followed by “away” to create a verb phrase meaning “died.”
According to Wikipedia, “away” is an adverb that typically indicates distance, removal, or continuation. It modifies verbs. Since “past” is not a verb, it cannot be modified by “away” in this specific idiomatic way. You might see “past” and “away” near each other in a sentence, but they will never form a single phrasal verb. For example, “He walked past and went away” is correct, but “He past away” is not.
Consider these common errors I encounter and why they fail:
- Error: “She past away in 2020.”
- Why it fails: “Past” cannot perform the action of dying. You need the verb “passed.”
- Error: “My cat has past away.”
- Why it fails: The present perfect tense requires the past participle of the verb. The past participle of “pass” is “passed,” not “past.”
- Error: “They pasted away the hours.”
- Why it fails: This is a different error entirely, confusing “passed” (time going by) with “pasted” (gluing). But even here, “past” is incorrect. The correct phrase for time elapsing is “passed the hours.”
If you are ever tempted to write “past away,” stop and ask yourself: “Am I trying to describe an action?” If the answer is yes, you must use a verb. “Past” is not a verb. “Passed” is.
How to remember the difference
The most effective way to remember the difference is to focus on the -ed ending. In English, when we talk about something that happened in the past using a regular verb, we almost always add -ed. Think of other verbs: walk becomes walked, talk becomes talked, and pass becomes passed.
Here is a simple mnemonic I teach my junior editors:
“You need action to pass away, and actions end in -ED.”
Another helpful trick is to substitute the word “died.” If you can swap in “died,” you need the verb “passed.”
- “He [passed/died] away.” -> Makes sense.
- “He [past/died] away.” -> Does not make sense.
You can also remember that “past” is just time, while “passed” is what you did.
- The past is a noun. It sits there. It doesn’t do anything.
- Passed is a verb. It moves. It acts. Dying is an event, an action, a transition. Therefore, it requires the verb.
If you are still unsure, look at the word “past.” It contains the word “last.” The past is the last thing that happened. But “passed” contains the word “ass” if you remove the p and ed… okay, that’s not helpful. Let’s stick to the verb rule. Verb = Action = -ED.
Common mistakes and exceptions
While “past away” is always wrong, there are other related phrases where “past” and “passed” cause confusion. Understanding these will help you avoid broader grammatical pitfalls.
Passed vs. Past in Time Expressions
One of the most common mix-ups occurs when talking about time.
- Correct: “Ten minutes have passed.” (Verb: The action of time elapsing.)
- Correct: “It is ten minutes past five.” (Preposition: Position in time relative to the hour.)
- Incorrect: “Ten minutes have past.”
- Incorrect: “It is ten minutes passed five.”
In the first correct example, “passed” is the verb. In the second, “past” is a preposition indicating position. You cannot swap them.
Passed vs. Past in Movement
- Correct: “She passed me on the highway.” (Verb: She performed the action of overtaking.)
- Correct: “She drove past me on the highway.” (Preposition: She moved beyond my position.)
- Incorrect: “She past me on the highway.”
- Incorrect: “She drove passed me on the highway.” (Note: Some style guides accept “drove passed” if “passed” is treated as a participle, but “drove past” is generally preferred and clearer. However, “she past me” is always wrong.)
US vs. UK Differences
There is no difference between American and British English regarding “passed away” vs. “past away.” Both varieties strictly require “passed away” for the euphemism of death. The confusion is purely phonetic, not regional. Whether you are writing for the New York Times or the BBC, “past away” will be flagged as an error by any competent copy editor.
Exception: “Past” as an Adjective
Remember that “past” can be an adjective meaning “former” or “previous.”
- “His past achievements were notable.”
- “In past years, we have seen growth.”
You would never say “His passed achievements” or “In passed years.” This is another quick check: if you can replace the word with “previous,” use “past.” If you can replace it with “went by” or “died,” use “passed.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “past away” ever correct in casual texting? No. Even in casual texting, “past away” is grammatically incorrect. While friends may understand what you mean due to the identical pronunciation, it is still an error. It is better to use “passed away” or simply “died” to ensure clarity and respect.
Can I use “passed on” instead of “passed away”? Yes, “passed on” is another accepted euphemism for death. It follows the same grammatical rule: you must use the verb “passed,” not “past.” So, “He passed on” is correct, while “He past on” is incorrect.
Why do people keep writing “past away”? People write “past away” because “passed” and “past” are homophones—they sound exactly the same. When writing quickly, especially on mobile devices, people often type the shorter word “past” because it feels simpler, or they simply misspell the verb form. It is a phonetic error, not a logical one.
Is “deceased” a better word than “passed away”? “Deceased” is more formal and clinical. It is often used in legal documents, police reports, or medical contexts. “Passed away” is warmer and more suitable for personal communications, obituaries, and condolences. Choose the term that fits the tone of your message, but always spell it correctly.
Samantha Jones graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Oxford University and has been involved in language education for over 15 years. Her expertise lies in comparative language analysis, focusing particularly on the differences and similarities in spelling across various English dialects. Samantha’s passion for this niche developed from her love of storytelling and desire to preserve the subtle differences that make English unique around the globe. On SpellRightDaily, she crafts detailed articles that compare common spelling errors and offer practical advice for writers and editors looking to polish their work. Samantha’s content is known for its clarity and depth, helping readers decode complex spelling issues and improve their writing skills. She also enjoys delving into the psychology of language learning, and how cognitive factors influence the retention of correct spelling patterns. Her engaging writing encourages a deeper appreciation of the language’s rich diversity.