on their own

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on their own" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is being done without the help of someone else. For example, "The children were able to complete the project on their own without any assistance from their parents."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They will on their own.

WikiHow

They're on their own".

The New York Times

Users are on their own.

The New York Times - Tech

They were on their own.

The New York Times

Foreigners are on their own.

The Economist

They're on their own agendas.

The New York Times

Probably on their own courses.

Independent

Addicts are on their own.

The New York Times

They know they're on their own.

The New Yorker

They stayed on their own terms.

The Economist

They can learn on their own.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on their own" to clearly indicate that individuals or entities are acting or functioning without external assistance or intervention. This emphasizes independence and self-reliance.

Common error

Avoid using "on their own" when you mean "on its own" or "on his/her own". The pronoun must match the subject; ensure the possessive pronoun correctly reflects the subject's plurality and gender.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on their own" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It indicates the manner in which an action is performed or a state is achieved, emphasizing independence or a lack of external assistance. Ludwig AI confirms this through various examples where individuals act without help.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on their own" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to emphasize independence and self-reliance. As Ludwig AI validates, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, including news, general writing, and scientific discourse. It's important to use this phrase correctly, ensuring pronoun agreement and selecting it over similar phrases like "by themselves" or "independently" based on the specific nuance you want to convey. By following these guidelines, you can confidently incorporate "on their own" into your writing to highlight autonomy and individual agency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

independently

This adverb directly conveys the meaning of doing something without help.

by themselves

This alternative emphasizes the absence of other people.

without assistance

This is a more formal way to express the lack of help.

unaided

This single word highlights the lack of external support.

solo

This option indicates doing something alone, particularly in a performance context.

autonomously

Implies acting with self-governance or independence.

of one's own accord

This phrase suggests acting voluntarily and without external prompting.

under one's own steam

This idiom suggests progressing through one's own effort, without the help of external sources.

single-handedly

This adverb describes doing something alone, often implying it's a difficult task.

off one's own bat

This idiom suggests doing something based on one's initiative, without external suggestion.

FAQs

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

You can use "on their own" to indicate that someone is doing something independently. For example, "The students completed the project "on their own" without any help from the teacher".

What are some alternatives to saying "on their own"?

Alternatives to "on their own" include "independently", "by themselves", or "without assistance", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "on it's own" instead of "on its own"?

No, "on it's own" is incorrect. The correct phrase is "on its own", where "its" is the possessive form of "it". The phrase "on it's own" contains a grammatical error and creates confusion. It is a common typo but should be avoided.

When should I use "on their own" versus "by themselves"?

While both phrases indicate doing something without help, "on their own" often implies a degree of self-sufficiency or autonomy. The phrase "by themselves" emphasizes the absence of others. Choose the phrase that best fits the nuance you want to convey.