at their returns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at their returns" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing the outcomes or results of something, but it is not commonly used. Example: "The investors were pleased at their returns from the previous quarter."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The best that can be done is to look at their returns.

The Economist

Boomers who have recently checked out of the office and parachuted into this down market now need to rethink their game plans and compensate, as the bears claw away at their returns.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They looked at their return on capital employed, which is to say the amount train operators made on the money tied up in their business.

The Guardian - Opinion

The task facing Mr. Obama does not rise to those levels, but that these are the comparisons most often cited sobers even Democrats rejoicing at their return to power.

The New York Times

At their return in the evening to Shelford, the dead wife was removed from his bed into a coffin, to give way for the new-married couple to celebrate their nuptials.

The Guardian

"In many cases," said Glen Esnard, a senior managing director at CB Richard Ellis, "if they look at their return on investment capital, they do better if they open another store than if they own the real estate for that store".

The New York Times

You hear the grating roar Of pebbles which the waves draw back and fling At their return, up the high strand, Begin, and cease, and then again begin, With tremulous cadence slow, and bring The eternal note of sadness in.

The Guardian - Books

He invites his reader to hear "the grating roar/ Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling/ At their return, up the high strand", as bringing "the eternal note of sadness in".

The Guardian

Thereafter the patients were taught how to manage difficulties at their return-to-work and how to generalize coping strategies to different risk factors at their work places.

Pain

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of unscheduled ED return visits, to identify the risk factors for these return visits, to assess the reasons for unscheduled return and to describe the post-ED disposition of patients at their return visit.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The 30-year-old centre-back, and former captain of Perth Glory, was at the Reds' Stoke Lane ground, in May, to witness the team's devastation at their return to the Premier League North - the third tier of women's football.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "regarding their returns" or "upon their return" for clarity and broader acceptance in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "at their returns" when referring to physical returns (e.g., returning an item to a store). The phrase is primarily understood in the context of investment or achievement outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a point of focus or reference, specifically related to the outcomes or profits that "they" have achieved. While Ludwig provides examples, it notes that the phrase isn't standard in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at their returns" is an acceptable, though infrequent, prepositional phrase generally used to refer to the context of financial or achievement outcomes. While grammatically sound, Ludwig AI and the limited examples suggest that it is not a standard expression and might benefit from using more common alternatives such as "regarding their returns" or "upon their return" for improved clarity and wider acceptance. Usage contexts span from News & Media to Science, indicating versatility, yet its rarity suggests careful consideration when choosing this phrase for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarding their results

Using a more general term "results" to encompass all kinds of outcomes.

upon their return

Replaces "at" with "upon", shifting the focus to the moment of something's comeback or arrival.

regarding their gains

Substitutes "returns" with "gains", emphasizing financial profit or advantage.

concerning their yields

Replaces "returns" with "yields", specifically highlighting investment outcomes.

in relation to their profits

Replaces "returns" with "profits", focusing on financial earnings and adding a formal tone with "in relation to".

with respect to their revenue

Replaces "returns" with "revenue", highlighting the income generated, and uses a more formal introductory phrase.

on their arrival

Focuses on the act of coming back and uses "arrival" instead of "return".

after they come back

Expresses the action of return using a more explicit and less formal structure.

following their restoration

Replaces "returns" with "restoration", indicating a return to a previous condition.

consequent to their comeback

Emphasizes that something follows as a result of their return, using more formal vocabulary.

FAQs

How can I use "at their returns" in a sentence?

While not very common, you can use "at their returns" to refer to someone's reaction to outcomes or profits, such as, "The investors were pleased at their returns from the previous quarter."

What's a more common alternative to "at their returns"?

Phrases like "regarding their returns", "concerning their returns", or "upon their return" are more frequently used and may provide greater clarity. See also "regarding their results".

Is "at their returns" grammatically incorrect?

Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is acceptable, but not standard. Using it may sound unusual to some readers, so consider using more conventional alternatives to improve clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "at their returns"?

It's most appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize a direct response or feeling associated with investment outcomes or achievements. However, weigh this against the potential for misunderstanding.