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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
assert their agency
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "assert their agency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing empowerment, autonomy, or the ability of individuals or groups to make their own choices and take control of their circumstances. Example: "In the workshop, participants were encouraged to assert their agency and take charge of their personal development."
✓ Grammatically correct
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
Instead, historians who came of age during the civil rights movement emphasized ways in which the former slaves asserted their agency, playing as important a role in their own liberation as Lincoln or the Union army.
News & Media
And they assert their right to agency and self-determination even in the face of economic constraints.
News & Media
After the song's release, across all sexual orientations, women's sexuality took a serious hit, and lesbian sexuality was similarly exploited: Girl-on-girl experimentation was seen as women lacking self-control rather than as women asserting their sexual agency.
News & Media
A report by International Crisis Group, an NGO, counted 11 agencies asserting their interest, including provincial governments, the navy and the Bureau of Fisheries Administration.
News & Media
Waters (1999) and Philip Kasinitz (1992) document how phenotypically black West Indian immigrants exercise agency in asserting their ethnic identity in order to differentiate themselves from native-born African Americans, but discrimination and violence aimed at all Blacks, regardless of ethnicity, strongly constrains such agency.
Science
In short, only humans are free and they only attain freedom through moral agency, by asserting their place in the human realm.
News & Media
The company and other ratings agencies have prevailed by asserting their rights under the first amendment of the constitution, which states that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech".So the DoJ is taking a new approach, accusing the firm of knowing misrepresentation, which is not covered by the first amendment.
News & Media
In their ruling, the five-member board decided unanimously that it should not assert the agency's jurisdiction in the case, essentially dodging the complex question at its core -- whether schools exert enough control over scholarship athletes for them to be considered employees.
News & Media
And she comes to embrace defiance as a way to assert her agency.
News & Media
The effect is to assert the agency of the artist and suggest that it is the mandate of feminists to break the rules of patriarchy — or any authoritarian system (even a description provided by another artist).
News & Media
And both politics and writing, in different ways, exist in part to assert human agency in the face of trends that seem inexorable and impersonal — to hold up ideals even when fewer people are living up to them, to try to shape and redirect trends rather than taking them as a given, to mitigate the excesses of revolutions and try to preserve the best of the old even when the new comes rushing in.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "assert their agency" when you want to emphasize the active role individuals or groups take in shaping their own lives or situations.
Common error
Avoid using "assert their agency" when describing situations where individuals are merely reacting to circumstances rather than actively shaping them. Ensure that the context reflects a deliberate act of taking control.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "assert their agency" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating an action or process. It describes the act of individuals or groups actively exercising their power and autonomy to make independent choices and control their circumstances. Ludwig AI provides examples demonstrating the phrase in diverse contexts.
Frequent in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "assert their agency" is grammatically correct and conveys the act of actively exercising one's power and autonomy. While Ludwig AI indicates its frequency is limited at this time, the phrase is generally acceptable and usable in written English across a variety of contexts, though it’s important to ensure that such contexts truly involve individuals or groups actively shaping their environment. Related phrases like "exercise their autonomy" and "claim their power" offer similar meanings with slight variations.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
exercise their autonomy
This alternative focuses on the independent decision-making aspect of agency.
claim their power
This alternative emphasizes the aspect of having and using influence or authority.
take control of their lives
This alternative broadens the scope to encompass overall life management.
establish their independence
This emphasizes becoming free from external control or influence.
enforce their rights
This alternative focuses on the legal or moral entitlement aspect of agency.
demonstrate their self-determination
This alternative highlights the ability to make choices without external compulsion.
express their will
Focuses on conveying their desires and intentions.
exert their influence
Emphasizes the ability to affect the actions or decisions of others.
show their initiative
Focuses on proactively taking action and demonstrating resourcefulness.
take charge
This alternative offers a shorter, more direct way of expressing the idea of taking control.
FAQs
How can I use "assert their agency" in a sentence?
You can use "assert their agency" to describe situations where individuals or groups actively take control and make independent choices. For example, "The former slaves asserted their agency by playing an important role in their own liberation."
What does it mean to "assert their agency"?
To "assert their agency" means to actively exercise one's power, autonomy, and ability to make independent choices and take control of one's own life or situation.
What can I say instead of "assert their agency"?
You can use alternatives like "exercise their autonomy", "claim their power", or "take control of their lives" depending on the context.
In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "assert their agency"?
The phrase "assert their agency" is appropriate in contexts discussing empowerment, self-determination, and the ability of individuals or groups to make choices and shape their circumstances. It is often used in discussions about social justice, personal development, and human rights.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested