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Gene93 Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

to head off to a place

Hello,
A friend asked me whether "off" could be left out of: "I arrived in Düsseldorf at 4 pm and I headed off to Cologne at 5 pm." I think we should keep it, without it the sentence sounds bad to me. I can't think of any rule. Then he asked me whether "...and I went to Cologne at 5 pm" sounded better. I think I'd still say "...I went off to Cologne". I don't really know why.

What do you think? Am I being too harsh or?
  

Top answer

Probably a bit harsh, but legitimate questioning. "headed off" sounds more natural to me than "went off" in this case. For me, "off" is optional.

— Philip

  • Probably a bit harsh, but legitimate questioning.
  • "headed off" sounds more natural to me than "went off" in this case.
  • For me, "off" is optional.
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8 Answers
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Probably a bit harsh, but legitimate questioning. "headed off" sounds more natural to me than "went off" in this case. For me, "off" is optional.
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Yes, I don't think I'd use "went off". Out of curiosity, what in your opinion's wrong with it? I think I have an idea, but... I think the sentence would look somewhat bare without "off". That's just my opinion, though.
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Gene93In a slightly different context I might say: "I put my jacket on and went off to the hardware store." Does it sound okay?
It sounds fine.
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Gene93A friend asked me whether "off" could be left out of: "I arrived in Düsseldorf at 4 pm and I headed off to Cologne at 5 pm."
It can be left out. But "off' brings to mind that impetus we feel when we start to move, that initial overcoming of inertia. We are stepping off the starting point. (We're off to see the wizard / The wonderful wi
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CalifJimIt can be left out. But "off' brings to mind that impetus we feel when we start to move, that initial overcoming of inertia. We are stepping off the starting point. (We're off to see the wizard / The wonderful wizard of Oz.) Thus, by emphasizing the start of the motion, we make the verb 'head' more perfective in aspect when it has "off". The contrast is more appar
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That's a fair point, Jim. Does my original sentence with "head off" sound natural enough to you? I used "simple past" though.
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Gene93Does my original sentence with "head off" sound natural enough to you?
Yes.

CJ
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