my very own

USAGE SUMMARY

"my very own" is correct and usable in written English.
It is useful to emphasize the possessive form of a word or idea. For example, "This is my very own car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My very own ski instructor.

Independent

My very own ukulele.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Call it my very own listening tour.

The New York Times

Here's my very own top 10.

The Guardian

Nine straight hits by my very own chaps?

The New Yorker

My very own Internet packet switch was #6 at MIT.

Harvard Business Review

I'd call it Glooville, my very own private retreat.

The Guardian - Travel

It was to be my very own little eyrie.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And I win my very own consolation prize.

The New York Times - Style

It is my very own private reality TV moment.

The New York Times - Style

The book could be a surprise success — my very own "Springtime for Hitler".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience; while generally acceptable, "my very own" might be perceived as slightly informal in certain professional or academic settings.

Common error

Avoid using "my very own" excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or even self-centered. Vary your language by using simpler possessive forms or other descriptive phrases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my very own" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically emphasizing possession or a personal connection. According to Ludwig, this possessive phrase is correct and usable in written English. It modifies a noun to highlight that something belongs to or is uniquely associated with the speaker.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "my very own" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize possession or a unique personal connection. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and helpful to express the ownership or a special association. It appears most commonly in news and media sources, but is also found in academic and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, consider the level of emphasis you want to convey and avoid overuse to maintain clarity and impact in your writing. For alternatives, you might consider "personally owned", "exclusively mine", or "belonging solely to me" depending on the specific nuance you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely my own

Similar to "my very own", but with a slight emphasis on completeness or totality of ownership.

my personal

A shortened version of "my very own", reducing the emphasis but maintaining the possessive aspect.

belonging solely to me

Directly states ownership, with 'solely' reinforcing the idea of exclusivity.

personally owned

Focuses on the aspect of ownership, implying direct control and responsibility.

mine alone

Stresses the lack of shared ownership or access, focusing on the speaker's individual right.

exclusively mine

Highlights the exclusivity of possession, suggesting that something belongs only to the speaker.

uniquely personal

Emphasizes the individual and private nature of something, rather than direct ownership.

in my possession

Focuses more on the physical control or holding of something, rather than the right of ownership.

my exclusive property

Formal and legalistic term, highlighting rights and ownership.

specifically for me

Highlights that something was intended or made for one person, not necessarily implying ownership but a special connection.

FAQs

How can I use "my very own" in a sentence?

You can use "my very own" to emphasize possession or a personal connection to something. For example, "This is "my very own recipe"", or "I built this with "my very own hands"".

What's the difference between "my own" and "my very own"?

"My very own" is more emphatic than "my own". It adds extra emphasis to the idea of possession or personal connection, suggesting a special or unique relationship.

What can I say instead of "my very own"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "personally owned", "exclusively mine", or "belonging solely to me".

Is "my very own" grammatically correct?

Yes, "my very own" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's a standard way to emphasize possession or personal association with something.