both of their faces

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of their faces" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two individuals and describing their facial expressions or features collectively. Example: "Both of their faces lit up with joy when they heard the good news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The possibility of a smile brushed both of their faces.

The New Yorker

Right away I could see the shock on both of their faces as they looked st each other.

Huffington Post

The prospect of Hillary Clinton becoming the United States' first female president brought smiles to both of their faces.

Huffington Post

All I could think of were her tears of joy as her father escorted her down the aisle and the smiles on both of their faces as they recited their vows.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This is where a person is unable to move the muscles on one or both sides of their face.

Wikipedia

Eligible subjects had Fitzpatrick skin types I III and moderate to moderately severe periorbital wrinkles on both sides of their face.

British Journal of Dermatology

In front of their faces.

Huffington Post

As part of their face-off, both candidates talked about how they would handle issues of discriminatory policing and race relations.

The New York Times

A series of questions related to their knowledge of age-related skin changes of their face before their assigned education program and whether this improved both generally and at specific areas of their face after the program.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

Both of their cry faces are painful to watch, so I hope the breakup doesn't last too long.

Huffington Post

"Parenthood" is one of the chattiest shows on TV -- the Bravermans' overlapping conversations are one of the drama's signatures -- but often the best moments involve silence: Think of Adam Braverman looking at his wife, Kristina, who has been fighting breast cancer, as she slept, or think of both their faces the first time she got chemotherapy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a shared expression or reaction, use "both of their faces" to clearly indicate that the same emotion or state is visible on each individual.

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying to whom the faces belong, especially when multiple people are involved. Omitting "of their" can create confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of their faces" functions as a possessive phrase that specifies the faces belonging to two individuals. Ludwig confirms the validity and common usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both of their faces" is a grammatically sound and valid expression used to denote the faces of two individuals. Ludwig highlights its correctness and usability. While relatively rare in occurrence, it serves the purpose of clearly indicating that two specific people share a particular facial expression or feature. It is primarily found in News & Media, and alternatives like "each of their faces" or "their faces" might be used depending on the specific context. Always ensure clarity by specifying to whom the faces belong to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their faces

A shorter, more direct way of saying "both of their faces", when the context makes it clear there are only two people.

each of their faces

Replaces "both" with "each", emphasizing individuality rather than a collective.

the faces of both of them

Rephrases to emphasize the faces as a distinct attribute of the individuals.

faces of the two

Inverts the phrase, emphasizing the "faces" over the possessors.

their respective faces

Adds a formal tone, highlighting that each person has their own face.

the two faces

Simplifies by removing possessive pronouns and focusing on the count.

both faces of theirs

Changes the structure slightly, emphasizing possession.

the countenances of both

Uses a more formal synonym for faces, "countenances".

the visages of both

Replaces "faces" with another formal synonym, "visages".

the expressions on both faces

Focuses on the expressions shown on the faces.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "both of their faces" for variety?

You can use alternatives like "each of their faces", "the faces of both of them", or simply "their faces" if the context is clear.

Is it grammatically correct to say "both of their faces"?

Yes, "both of their faces" is grammatically correct. It indicates that you are referring to the faces of two specific individuals.

What's the difference between "both of their faces" and "their faces"?

"Both of their faces" emphasizes that there are exactly two individuals being referred to. "Their faces" /s/their+faces might be used when the number is already known or less important.

When is it appropriate to use "both of their faces" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to explicitly highlight that two individuals are displaying a particular expression or feature on their faces. For instance, "Both of their faces lit up with joy".