exercise their rights

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exercise their rights" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to make use of the advantages or privileges that one is entitled to. For example, "Every citizen should exercise their rights by voting in the upcoming election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

The company said Mr. Lampert's hedge funds expected to participate and exercise their rights in full.

The New York Times

Union leaders report harassment, threats and even firings when they exercise their rights to organise.

The Economist

But all three declined to exercise their rights before Nov. 12.

The New York Times

They just want to make it as difficult and intrusive for women to exercise their rights as they can.

The New Yorker

They still lack the platform to exercise their rights and without that they lack prospects for change".

The Guardian

Health services alone are not enough; there must be action to enable individuals to understand and exercise their rights.

The Guardian

But they will not be able to exercise their rights for one reason only: they have no money.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, also as with those laws and indeed, with government freedom of information laws in general individuals will have to be determined and persistent to exercise their rights.

The Economist

The statement also called on Mr. Mubarak to avoid "at all costs the use of violence against unarmed civilians and on the demonstrators to exercise their rights peacefully".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

But we do have millions of users and millions of citizens that can exercise their rights.

TechCrunch

After all, it's a totalitarian society where free people are not allowed to, you know, exercise their rights as human beings".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about rights, be specific about which rights are being exercised. Instead of saying "They exercised their rights", specify what those rights are, such as "They exercised their right to free speech".

Common error

Ensure you're using "rights" to refer to fundamental entitlements, not mere privileges. Rights are inherent and legally protected, while privileges are granted and can be revoked. Misusing these terms can undermine the significance of the rights being discussed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exercise their rights" functions as a verb phrase where "exercise" indicates the action of utilizing or implementing, "their" specifies possession, and "rights" denotes the entitlements or privileges being enacted. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exercise their rights" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the active utilization of legal, moral, or contractual entitlements. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread application. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase serves to inform, emphasize the importance of asserting one's rights, or describe specific actions taken to enact these entitlements. While alternatives like "use their rights" or "assert their rights" exist, the specific choice depends on the intended nuance. A key writing tip is to always specify the rights being exercised for clarity. Avoid confusing rights with privileges, as the former are legally protected and the latter are granted and revocable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practice their rights

Replaces "exercise" with "practice", implying a more habitual or developmental aspect of using rights.

exert their rights

Substitutes "exercise" with "exert", suggesting a more forceful or determined application of rights.

use their rights

Replaces "exercise" with "use", offering a simpler and more direct way to express the utilization of rights.

assert their rights

Replaces "exercise" with "assert", emphasizing the act of declaring and defending one's rights.

enjoy their rights

Shifts the focus to the positive experience of possessing and benefiting from rights, rather than the active use of them.

pursue their rights

Highlights the active seeking or striving to obtain or maintain their rights.

demonstrate their rights

Focuses on publicly showing or proving their rights, often in a collective or organized manner.

vindicate their rights

Emphasizes the act of clearing from accusation, suspicion, or doubt, and proving their rights are valid.

exercise their entitlement

Replaces "rights" with "entitlement", stressing the legitimacy of their claim to something.

exercise their prerogative

Replaces "rights" with "prerogative", highlighting a special right or privilege due to their position or status.

FAQs

How can I use "exercise their rights" in a sentence?

You can use "exercise their rights" to describe situations where individuals or groups are actively using their legal or moral entitlements. For example: "Citizens should be encouraged to exercise their rights by participating in democratic processes."

What is a good alternative to "exercise their rights"?

Alternatives include "use their rights", "assert their rights", or "practice their rights", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "exercise their rights" or "enjoy their rights"?

The choice depends on the context. "Exercise their rights" emphasizes the active use of an entitlement, while "enjoy their rights" focuses on the benefit or positive experience derived from having those rights.

What does it mean for a company to "exercise their rights"?

When a company "exercise their rights", it means they are taking actions permitted under law or contract to protect their interests. This could involve legal action, contractual claims, or other measures to enforce their entitlements.