turn of (off)

Turn off is the correct phrasal verb when you mean to stop power, silence audio, or make a device or function stop. "Turn of" is almost always a typo or a mishearing of the particle off.

Quick answer

Use "turn off" (two words) for stopping devices or functions. "Turn of" is incorrect in those cases.

Correct: "Turn off the lights."
Incorrect: "Turn of the lights." → replace of → off
Noun/adjective: write "turn-off" (hyphen) to mean a repellant: "That was a big turn-off."

Core explanation

"Off" is a particle/adverb that signals cessation or separation. "Of" is a preposition that expresses relationship or possession. When the intended meaning is to stop something, use off.

Most occurrences of "turn of" come from typing errors, autocorrect, or hearing the words wrongly. If the sentence means "stop" or "deactivate," replace "of" with "off."

"turn off" = stop power/function
"turn of" = incorrect for stopping actions (except in unrelated phrases like "turn of the century")

Hyphenation and spacing

Keep these simple rules in mind:

Verb: two words - "turn off the heater."
Noun/adjective meaning "repellant" or "deterrent": hyphenate - "a big turn-off."
Avoid: "turnof" and "turn of" when you mean the verb.

Grammar: separable phrasal verbs and pronouns

"Turn off" is separable. You can place the object between the verb and particle or after both words:

Turn the light off. / Turn off the light.
With pronouns, put the pronoun between verb and particle: "turn it off" (not "turn off it").

Wrong: Turn of it before you leave.
Right: Turn it off before you leave.

Real usage and tone: choose a more precise verb when needed

"Turn off" is neutral and fine for everyday use. In technical or formal contexts, prefer verbs that describe the exact action:

Servers or operating systems: "shut down" (not just "turn off" if a graceful shutdown is required).
Hardware: "power down" or "switch off" (British English often uses "switch off").
Accounts or features: "deactivate," "disable," or "turn off" depending on formality.

Work: "Please shut down the lab computers and turn off all monitors before you leave."
School: "Students, turn off your calculators and close your exam booklets."
Casual: "Hey, can you turn off the oven? I forgot."

Contextual rewrites you can copy (work, school, casual)

Swap the device or change formality as needed. Each rewrite replaces "turn of" and uses natural phrasing.

Work: Instead of "Turn of the server now," write "Please shut down the server now and notify IT."
School: Instead of "Turn of your calculator," write "Please turn off your calculator and put it away."
Casual: Instead of "Turn of the music," write "Could you turn off the music, please?"

Try your own sentence

Read the whole sentence aloud. If the intended action is stopping or removing power, the correct particle is off. Place pronouns between verb and particle: "turn it off."

Examples roundup - wrong → right pairs

Copy these corrected lines as templates. Adjust device names or pronouns as needed.

Wrong: Turn of the lights, please. →
Right: Turn off the lights, please.
Wrong: Did you turn of the lab equipment? →
Right: Did you turn off the lab equipment?
Wrong: I always turn of my phone during meetings. →
Right: I always turn off my phone during meetings.
Wrong: Turn of it before you go. →
Right: Turn it off before you go.
Wrong: She turned of the projector mid-presentation. →
Right: She turned off the projector mid-presentation.
Wrong: That smell was a big turn of. →
Right: That smell was a big turn-off.
Wrong: Turn of the server now or we will lose data. →
Right: Shut down the server now to avoid data loss.
Wrong: Please switch of the lights when you leave. →
Right: Please switch off the lights when you leave.
Wrong: She took of her headphones during the test (intended: removed). →
Right: She took off her headphones during the test.

Fix-your-sentence checklist

1) Is the action stopping power, sound, or a function? If yes → use off.
2) Replace any accidental "of" with "off."
3) If the object is a pronoun, put it between verb and particle: "turn it off."

Before: "Please turn of it." → After: "Please turn it off."
Before: "They always turn of music in the hall." → After: "They always turn off the music in the hall."

Memory tricks and quick audio tips

Visualize a switch moving away from the device - off = away/stop. Say the sentence slowly: when you mean "stop," the stress often falls on off.

Mnemonic: off = away/stop. Picture the switch moving away from the device.
Pronoun shortcut: "turn it off" - pronoun between verb and particle.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Other verbs slip the same way. Ask whether the action implies cessation (then use off) or relationship (then use of).

Wrong: "switch of the light" →
Right: "switch off the light."
Wrong: "take of the hat" →
Right: "take off the hat."
Watch pronouns: "Turn it off" (not "Turn off it").

FAQ

Is "turn of" ever correct?

Hardly. "Turn of" only appears in unrelated phrases like "turn of the century." It is not the phrasal verb meaning "stop."

Should I use "turn off" or "switch off"?

Both are correct. "Switch off" is common in British English; "turn off" is widely used. For technical actions, prefer precise verbs: "shut down," "power down," or "deactivate."

Which order is correct with pronouns: "turn it off" or "turn off it"?

Always write "turn it off." With full noun objects both orders work: "turn off the light" or "turn the light off."

Why do I keep typing "turn of"?

It's usually a typo or a mishearing-"of" and "off" sound similar. Add a quick search for "turn of" during proofreading and replace it when the meaning is to stop something.

When is "turn-off" hyphenated?

Use "turn off" for the verb. Use "turn-off" (hyphen) when the phrase is a noun or an adjective meaning a deterrent: "That was a major turn-off." Follow your style guide if you need stricter hyphenation rules.

Want a quick check?

If you're unsure, search your document for "turn of" and review each hit. Save a few corrected examples from this page for quick copy-paste fixes in emails, messages, and reports.