control them both

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "control them both" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to managing or directing two entities or subjects simultaneously. Example: "In order to achieve the desired outcome, you must learn how to control them both effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Huffington Post

The New Yorker

WikiHow

The Guardian - Tech

Vice

Wikipedia

The New York Times

The Guardian

The Economist

Encyclopedia Britannica

The New York Times - Sports

Los Angeles Times

TechCrunch

Independent

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Evolution: Education and Outreach

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Clinical interventions in aging

Annals of Intensive Care

Plosone

BMC Systems Biology

British Medical Journal

BMC Cancer

Procedia Engineering

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Runaway and homeless children, who are often as young as twelve years old, are targeted by pimps who manipulate and control them, both psychologically and physically.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For any photographer, birds are particularly difficult subjects to capture, and for Yola the question of how to control them was both a practical problem and a creative challenge.

The New Yorker

You will be using your muscles and will learn to better control them for both gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

WikiHow

It's a beautiful, narrative-driven story of two brothers trying to save their father's life, with you controlling them both.

The Guardian - Tech

But any old Joe can control them, which is both good and bad: Iran built their own drone recently and that shits me up a bit! "If they had guns and minds of their own it starts to gets a bit risky," he continued.

Vice

But any old Joe can control them, which is both good and bad: Iran built their own drone recently and that shakes me up a bit! "If they had guns and minds of their own it starts to gets a bit risky," he continued.

Vice

Although they still need extreme gravity fields to survive, the cheela can now control them precisely enough for both races to see each other face-to-face in safety.

Wikipedia

"And having them both controlled by a right-wing immigrant Australian who owns The New York Post could make for some interesting merger pains".

The New York Times

What resulted was a decision for Low and Obaid to work together on a deal that would allow them both to control mind-boggling sums of money.

The Guardian

America cannot control them".

The New York Times

"We cannot control them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "control them both", ensure clarity regarding the "them" being referred to in your sentence. Ambiguity can arise if the referents are not explicitly stated or easily understood from the context.

Common error

Avoid using "control them both" when the context implies a more nuanced interaction than direct control. Consider whether "influence", "manage", or "coordinate" might be more appropriate to accurately reflect the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "control them both" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It expresses the action of managing or directing two distinct entities. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "control them both" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of managing or directing two separate entities. While not extremely frequent, Ludwig confirms its validity in written English. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, though clarity is essential to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "manage both" or "govern them jointly" to refine your message. Remember to avoid overgeneralization and use the phrase when the context genuinely reflects direct or significant influence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

manage both of them

Focuses on the act of managing, suggesting a practical approach to handling two separate entities.

govern them jointly

Implies a formal or authoritative control over two entities, suggesting a structured approach.

oversee them together

Highlights the supervisory aspect of control, suggesting monitoring and guidance of two entities.

regulate them as a pair

Suggests the implementation of rules and standards to manage two entities in a coordinated manner.

handle both entities

Emphasizes the practical aspects of dealing with two specific entities.

coordinate them simultaneously

Focuses on synchronizing the actions or operations of two entities.

direct both elements

Implies giving instructions and guidance to two specific elements to achieve a goal.

administer them in unison

Suggests managing two entities in a harmonious and coordinated fashion.

steer them in tandem

Implies guiding or directing two entities together towards a specific direction or outcome.

influence them equally

Focuses on exerting an effect or impact on two entities with the same degree of intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "control them both" in a sentence?

You can use "control them both" when referring to managing or directing two entities or subjects simultaneously. For instance, "The game requires you to "control them both" to solve the puzzle."

What are some alternatives to "control them both"?

Alternatives include "manage both", "govern them jointly", or "oversee them together", depending on the specific context and the type of control being exerted.

Is "control them both" formal or informal?

The phrase "control them both" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the surrounding language and specific situation will ultimately determine the overall tone.

What does it mean to "control them both"?

To "control them both" means to have the power or ability to direct, influence, or regulate two separate entities simultaneously. The nature of this control can vary greatly depending on the context.