Absense or Absence: Which Is Correct?

"Absense" is a misspelling of "absence," which is a noun that refers to the state of not being present or the condition of being away or not existing. In many situations, "absence" is used when something or someone is expected or wanted but not present. It also can refer to a failure to be present at an expected or usual place or inattention to present surroundings or circumstances, like an absence of mind. Absence also encompasses the period of time a person or thing is not present as in someone taking a long absence from work.

Imagine a classroom where the teacher and all the students are usually present. However, one day, the teacher is not in the classroom, and there is an empty desk where the teacher usually sits. In this situation, the "absence" of the teacher means that the teacher is not there when they are expected to be, and the students notice that something is different because the teacher is missing.

"Absence" can be difficult to spell because the "-ce" sound is pronounced the same as "-se," so writers may get confused when spelling such words. Furthermore, many words in the English language end in "-se," such as "excuse," "sense," and "intense," so this may confuse people even more.

Example sentences

The absence of his name on the attendance sheet raised concerns.
The absence of streetlights made it difficult to navigate the dark, deserted road.
Her sudden absence from work without prior notice led to questions from her colleagues.
The absence of any evidence made it challenging to solve the mystery.
In the absence of a better solution, we decided to proceed with the available resources.
The absence of rain for several weeks resulted in a severe drought.
His absence from the family gathering was noted, as he rarely missed such events.
In the absence of the manager, the assistant took charge of the meeting.
The absence of a clear plan left the project in disarray.
The school policy stated that excessive absences would affect a student's grade.

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