on her own

USAGE SUMMARY

"on her own" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "She decided to face the challenge on her own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The one on her own.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No one can succeed on her own.

Forbes

And on her own?

Independent

Arleen was on her own.

The New Yorker

My mother raised me on her own.

Independent

Natalie usually gets up on her own.

The New York Times

Bartz, however, failed on her own merits.

The New Yorker

But Anderson was increasingly on her own.

The New Yorker

She gets dressed on her own.

The New York Times

"She is breathing on her own.

The New York Times

Instead, she was on her own.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on her own" to emphasize a woman's independence, self-reliance, or lack of external support in a particular situation. It can highlight personal agency or resilience.

Common error

Avoid using "on her own" when a simple possessive adjective ('her') suffices. For example, instead of saying "She did the project on her own," consider "She did her own project" if the focus is merely on possession rather than independence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on her own" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that someone is acting independently or without assistance. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on her own" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that signifies independence and self-reliance. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and versatile across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "independently" or "by herself" exist, "on her own" offers a nuanced way to emphasize autonomy. Remember to use it judiciously, avoiding redundancy, and to differentiate its meaning from phrases that merely indicate possession. With its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, mastering "on her own" enhances clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by herself

Synonymous phrase emphasizing solitude or lack of company.

independently

Adverb indicating action performed without assistance; more concise.

without assistance

Formal expression stressing absence of help.

unaided

Single-word adjective describing action done without external support; slightly more formal.

autonomously

Emphasizes self-governance and independent decision-making.

on her own merits

Focuses on individual qualities or abilities as the basis for success.

solo

Shorter and more informal way to say alone.

under her own steam

Idiomatic phrase emphasizing self-motivation and energy.

single-handedly

Highlights completing a task alone, often implying it was challenging.

of her own volition

Emphasizes acting according to one's own will or choice.

FAQs

How can I use "on her own" in a sentence?

You can use "on her own" to describe someone doing something independently, such as "She decided to travel Europe "on her own"".

What's a more formal alternative to "on her own"?

A more formal alternative would be "independently" or "without assistance". For example, instead of saying "She completed the task "on her own"", you could say "She completed the task independently".

Is it ever incorrect to use "on her own"?

While grammatically correct, "on her own" might be redundant if the context already implies independence. Choose your words carefully to avoid unnecessary repetition.

What's the difference between "by herself" and "on her own"?

"By herself" emphasizes solitude or being alone, while "on her own" highlights independence and self-reliance. For example, "She was "by herself" in the library" focuses on her being alone, whereas "She started the business "on her own"" emphasizes her independence in starting the business.