is he in possession of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is he in possession of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring whether someone has or owns something. Example: "I wonder if he is in possession of the documents we need for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Neither is he in possession of that inestimable quality of inculcating confidence, which Speed always had in spades.

Independent

"How is he in possession of the drug if it's all the way back here?" The charges include criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and conspiracy in the second and fourth degree.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

What we do know, though, is that he is in possession of some genuinely atrocious parking skills.

The Guardian - Film

Either he has no idea what he's doing or he's in possession of a vividly idiosyncratic directing style.

The New York Times

Salam was told that he was in possession of suspicious documents that might be of use to a person preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rather, she is suggesting that he was in possession of stolen material which could help terrorism, presumably by publication.

The Guardian - Opinion

"At the moment Artur is number one, he's in possession of the shirt.

BBC

He has confirmed he is in possession of unauthorised Nokia prototypes and other intellectual property, and we have asked for their return.

TechCrunch

Bailey, who is still doing stand-up and booking movie roles, said he is in possession of the famous yellow cab.

Huffington Post

"Even if he has not completely recovered physically, I can assure you he is in possession of all his mental and intellectual faculties," he said.

BBC

They've demanded that Mr. Bennett prove he is in possession of the power to demand that Hawaii prove it is in possession of the document.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is he in possession of" when you want to inquire about someone's ownership or control over something, especially when the context involves legal or formal implications.

Common error

Avoid using "is he in possession of" when simply asking if someone is temporarily holding an item. Opt for "is he holding" or "does he have" instead to reflect the temporary nature of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is he in possession of" functions as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about someone's ownership, control, or holding of an item or attribute. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Formal & Business

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is he in possession of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used interrogative phrase that inquires about someone's ownership, control, or holding of an item or attribute. Ludwig confirms that it is usable in written English. It tends to be used in neutral to professional contexts, particularly in news and legal scenarios. While alternatives like "does he have" exist, "is he in possession of" often carries a more formal or legal implication. Remember to use it when inquiring about actual ownership or control, not just temporary holding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does he have

Uses a more direct verb to inquire about possession.

is he the owner of

Specifically emphasizes ownership.

does he own

A more concise and straightforward way to ask about ownership.

is it his

Simplified to focus on the object's belonging.

is he holding

Focuses on physical possession or control.

is he carrying

Implies temporary possession while transporting something.

is he in control of

Shifts the focus to control rather than ownership.

is he responsible for

Implies responsibility alongside possession or control.

is it under his command

Suggests authority and control over something.

is he entrusted with

Highlights the act of being trusted with something valuable.

FAQs

What does "is he in possession of" mean?

The phrase "is he in possession of" means to ask whether someone owns something, has it on them, or has control over it. It often implies a formal or legal context.

When is it appropriate to use "is he in possession of"?

Use "is he in possession of" when the context is formal, legal, or when you want to emphasize ownership or control rather than just temporary holding. For example, "Is he in possession of the stolen goods?"

What can I say instead of "is he in possession of"?

You can use alternatives like "does he have", "does he own", or "is he holding" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "does he have" and "is he in possession of"?

While both phrases inquire about someone having something, "is he in possession of" is more formal and often implies legal ownership or control. "Does he have" is a more general and informal way to ask if someone has something.