belongings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "belongings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to personal items or possessions that someone owns or carries with them. Example: "After the trip, I made sure to gather all my belongings before leaving the hotel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That all their belongings were left behind at their house in Abingdon further confirms that this had not been planned beforehand.

The Guardian

Last year, the city issued a new rule that allowed the homeless to have only three belongings with them: a bedroll, backpack and beverage.

The Guardian

Walpole offered a 20-guinea reward for his belongings, to which Maclaine responded with a somewhat apologetic letter demanding 40 guineas.

The Guardian - Film

At one point Gram in The Sky Is Everywhere attempts to empty the whole house of the family's belongings trying to figure out what's causing the bad luck.

The Guardian

In 1949 Edgecombe arrived in Liverpool, carrying his belongings in a paper bag.

The Guardian

What you instead have is a kind of vacuum that is not quite Britain, not quite not Britain, in which this Act enables people to interrogate people for up to nine hours and seize all their belongings with no checks and balances.

The Guardian

In refugee camps, a young girl or woman who has fled her home with few or no belongings has limited access to water or soap and has to travel long distances to communal toilets.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We gather his belongings and tablets, take him home and make sure he is settled.

The Guardian

I was reminded of my trip to Cuba a few days ago, finding an envelope of photographs in a box of belongings.

The Guardian - Music

At least 50,000 displaced Yazidis are still trying to find shelter inside the Kurdish north after abandoning their homes and belongings as they escaped from Islamic extremists who ousted them from their ancient lands as they advanced towards Erbil.

The Guardian

HM Revenue and Customs used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa) to examine the belongings, emails, internet search records and phone calls of their own solicitor, Osita Mba, and the phone records of his then wife.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about displaced people or refugees, use "belongings" to humanize their situation by focusing on the personal items they carry.

Common error

Avoid using "belongings" when referring to real estate or significant assets; it's better suited for smaller, personal items. Use "assets" or "property" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "belongings" is as a noun, specifically a plural noun, referring to items owned by a person. Ludwig's examples clearly illustrate its use in describing personal possessions, confirming its role in denoting ownership and personal property.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "belongings" is a grammatically sound and frequently used plural noun that signifies personal possessions. According to Ludwig, the term is correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in News & Media sources, offering a neutral and widely accessible means of referring to one's personal items. When using "belongings", it's crucial to consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the scope of items being discussed and avoid using it to describe significative assets. When you write, consider using the term personal effects and possessions as a valid and semantically similar alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal effects

Focuses specifically on items for personal use, slightly narrowing the scope from all possessions.

effects

Similar to 'personal effects', often used in legal or formal contexts to describe possessions.

personal property

Implies legal ownership and a broader range of assets, including movable possessions.

possessions

A general term for things owned; slightly broader than items carried regularly.

worldly goods

Suggests a connection to material wealth, often used in a religious or moral context.

trappings

Often implies items associated with a particular status or role.

gear

Refers to equipment or apparatus used for a specific purpose or activity.

things

A very general term, lacking the specificity of "belongings".

luggage

Specifically refers to bags and suitcases containing personal items for travel.

kit

Implies a collection of items assembled for a particular purpose.

FAQs

How to use "belongings" in a sentence?

You can use "belongings" to refer to personal items or possessions that someone owns or carries with them. For instance, "After the trip, I made sure to gather all my belongings before leaving the hotel".

What can I say instead of "belongings"?

You can use alternatives like "personal effects", "possessions", or "personal property" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "belongings" or "belongings'"?

"Belongings" is correct when referring to multiple items owned by someone. "Belongings'" indicates possessive plural, which is rarely needed. For singular possessive, use "belonging", as in "the belonging of the family".

What's the difference between "belongings" and "assets"?

"Belongings" typically refers to personal items and possessions, while "assets" refers to resources of value, which can include real estate, investments, and other financial holdings. "Belongings" is a subset of assets.