in their

USAGE SUMMARY

"in their" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example: He watched the children play in their backyard.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In their Sunday best.

The New Yorker

Putty in their hands".

The New York Times - Books

"But in their condition.

The New York Times

In their faint photographs.

The New Yorker

levels in their bloodstreams.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Stuck in their ways".

The New York Times - Magazine

All in their sixties.

Independent

It's in their blood.

The New York Times

You're in their way.

The New Yorker

Scrapple in their helmets?

The New Yorker

Certainly in their neighborhood.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by specifying the referent of "their" to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "The team celebrated in their way", specify "The team celebrated in their unique way".

Common error

Avoid using "in their" when referring to a singular subject. For example, instead of "Each student should bring "in their" own lunch," use "Each student should bring his or her own lunch" or, better yet, "All students should bring "in their" own lunches."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in their" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating location, condition, or association. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct, supporting its role in specifying circumstances related to a group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in their" is a versatile and grammatically sound prepositional phrase widely used to denote location, condition, or association with a group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and its prevalence across various sources—particularly in News & Media and Wiki—underscores its broad applicability. Pay attention to clarity by ensuring the antecedent of "their" is clear and unambiguous. Avoid the common error of using "in their" with singular subjects. By following these guidelines, you can effectively and accurately incorporate "in their" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within their

Emphasizes containment or enclosure more strongly than "in their".

inside their

Indicates physical containment or being enclosed by something.

among their

Suggests being included as part of a group or collection belonging to them.

belonging to them

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a participial phrase, highlighting ownership.

as part of their

Highlights that something is a component or element of their collective entity.

in the midst of their

Suggests being surrounded by or deeply involved in something that belongs to them.

under their

Implies a position of subordination, authority or influence.

according to them

Indicates something is viewed or understood from their perspective or based on their information.

from their perspective

Focuses on their point of view or how they perceive something.

on their part

Emphasizes an action, responsibility, or characteristic originating from them.

FAQs

How can I use "in their" correctly in a sentence?

Use "in their" to indicate that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people or things that have already been mentioned. For example, "The students expressed pride "in their" accomplishments."

What is the difference between "in their" and "in its"?

"In their" is used for plural possessive pronouns, referring to something belonging to multiple entities. "In its" is used for singular possessive pronouns, when something belongs to a single entity. For example, "The students showed creativity "in their" projects" versus "The company invested heavily "in its" infrastructure."

Are there formal alternatives to using "in their"?

While "in their" is perfectly acceptable in most contexts, for more formal writing, consider rephrasing to avoid pronouns altogether. For instance, instead of "The researchers published "in their" journals," you could say, "The researchers published in academic journals."

What are some common phrases that include "in their"?

Common phrases include "in their opinion", "in their view", "in their spare time", and "in their own way". Each of these indicates a perspective, activity, or manner that is specific to the group being referenced. You can find some possible alternatives "according to them", "from their perspective" and "on their part".