his phone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "his phone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the mobile device owned by a male individual. Example: "I borrowed his phone to make a quick call."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His phone rang.

The New York Times

His phone vibrated.

The New Yorker

He grabbed his phone.

The New York Times - Food

Then his phone rang.

The New York Times

Then his phone buzzed.

The New York Times - Sports

Isn't it his phone?

The New York Times

His phone rings nonstop.

The New York Times - Sports

Bond snapped his phone shut.

The Guardian - Travel

"Never reply on his phone".

The New Yorker

And then his phone rang.

The New York Times - Sports

Instead, his phone buzzed incessantly.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In journalistic writing, "his phone" is appropriate for general contexts. Specify "smartphone" or "mobile device" when technical details are relevant.

Common error

Avoid redundant constructions like "the phone of his" when "his phone" is more concise and natural. Clarity is key.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "his phone" functions as a possessive determiner plus a noun. It modifies the noun "phone" to specify ownership by a male individual. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "his phone" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate possession of a phone by a male individual. As Ludwig confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "the phone belonging to him" exist, "his phone" is generally more concise and natural. When using the phrase, be mindful of potential redundancies and ensure clarity in your writing. Remember to specify additional details like "smartphone" when technically relevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his mobile device

A more technical and modern term for phone.

his cellular phone

Emphasizes the cellular technology.

the phone belonging to him

Formal and emphasizes ownership.

his smartphone

Specifies a type of mobile phone with advanced computing capability and connectivity.

the cell phone he owns

Specifies the type of phone and ownership.

the telephone he uses

Focuses on the action of using the phone.

his personal communication device

Formal and broad, encompasses various communication devices.

the device in his possession

More general, could refer to other devices besides a phone.

the gadget he carries

Informal and focuses on portability.

his line

Refers to his phone connection.

FAQs

How can I use "his phone" in a sentence?

You can use "his phone" to indicate possession, such as "He answered "his phone"" or "She borrowed "his phone" to make a call".

What are some alternatives to saying "his phone"?

Alternatives include "the phone belonging to him", "his mobile device", or "his cell phone", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "phone of him" instead of "his phone"?

No, "phone of him" is not grammatically correct. The correct possessive form is "his phone".

What's the difference between "his phone" and "her phone"?

"His phone" refers to a phone belonging to a male, while "her phone" refers to a phone belonging to a female. The possessive pronoun indicates the owner's gender.