in private hands

USAGE SUMMARY

"in private hands" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something belongs to a private individual or group, rather than to a company, organization, or the government. For example, "The land has been in private hands for generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It remains in private hands.

The Economist

Until 1913 it was in private hands.

The Economist

How much should be in private hands?

The New York Times

"Most of the infrastructure is in private hands.

The New York Times

It is the most important Kirchner in private hands.

The New Yorker

Today, 2 of the 33 islands remain in private hands.

The New York Times

It remains unclear how it ended up in private hands.

The New York Times - Arts

Most of Iceland's production is in private hands.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Barely a fifth of the economy is in private hands.

The Economist

"It is the most important Picasso in private hands today".

The Guardian - Arts

Agriculture, internal trade and distribution are mostly in private hands.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing assets or entities, clarify whether "in private hands" refers to individual ownership, a private company, or other non-governmental organization to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming "in private hands" always implies individual ownership. It can also refer to corporations or private institutions. Specify the type of private entity if precision is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in private hands" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It indicates the state of ownership or control of something. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing where assets, companies, or even art reside.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in private hands" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something is owned or controlled by private individuals or entities, as opposed to the government or public sector. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and wide applicability. It's essential to specify what type of private entity holds the ownership when using the phrase. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but it's readily understood across various registers. Alternatives include phrases like "privately owned" or "under private control", each emphasizing slightly different aspects of the ownership or control.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

privately owned

Focuses on the ownership aspect, highlighting that something is owned by a private entity.

under private control

Emphasizes the aspect of control rather than ownership.

in individual ownership

Highlights ownership by a single person rather than a company or organization.

held by private citizens

Specifies that private citizens, not organizations, are the holders.

non-governmentally controlled

A more formal way of stating that the government does not control it.

in the private sector

Indicates that something is part of the private sector, contrasting with the public sector.

commercially held

Focuses on the commercial aspect of the ownership.

within private enterprise

Highlights the context of private business and entrepreneurship.

under private auspices

Emphasizes the support and guidance provided by private individuals or organizations.

in the hands of private investors

Specifies that investors, rather than other entities, are the holders.

FAQs

What does "in private hands" mean?

It means something is owned or controlled by individuals or private entities, rather than the government or public sector.

What are some alternatives to saying "in private hands"?

You can use alternatives like "privately owned", "under private control", or "in individual ownership" depending on the context.

Is it better for certain things to be "in private hands" or public hands?

Whether private or public control is better depends on the specific context and the goals one is trying to achieve. Both have potential advantages and disadvantages.

How does something ending up "in private hands"?

This can happen through privatization, inheritance, purchase, or other forms of transfer from public or other private entities.