on their way

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on their way" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase indicates movement or progress towards a destination. You can use it to describe someone or something that is en route or on the move. Example: The delivery trucks were loaded up with packages and were on their way to the post office.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They're on their way".

The New Yorker

The girls on their way.

The New Yorker

In Iraq: "On their way".

The New Yorker

"They're on their way to Long Island.

The New Yorker

They were on their way to Malta.

The New York Times

They really are on their way out.

The Economist

"The parts are on their way".

The New York Times

Well, they are on their way somewhere.

The New Yorker

Commuters on their way to work.

The Economist

Monday on their way to work.

The New York Times

People applauded and went on their way.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "en route" or "in transit" for variety, but be mindful of the context and desired level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using "on their way" when you simply mean something is planned or scheduled, but not yet in motion. Instead, use phrases like "scheduled" or "planned".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on their way" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the state of movement or progress toward a destination. Ludwig examples show it describes people, objects, or even abstract concepts that are currently traveling or progressing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on their way" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that someone or something is in transit toward a destination. As verified by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently found in news, media, and everyday conversations. To enhance your writing, remember to use it when describing ongoing movement and consider alternatives like "en route" or "approaching" for variety. Avoid using it when something is merely planned but not yet in motion, and be mindful of subject-verb agreement. This ensures clarity and precision in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

en route

Replaces the entire phrase with a single word indicating the state of being on the way.

in transit

Similar to "en route", this indicates that something is being moved from one place to another.

approaching

Focuses on the action of getting closer to a destination.

heading towards

Emphasizes the direction of travel.

making progress

Highlights the advancement being made.

advancing toward

Similar to "heading towards" but slightly more formal.

scheduled to arrive

Indicates that an arrival time has been set.

due to arrive

Expresses an expected arrival.

bound for

Indicates a final destination.

moving toward

Simple expression indicating movement in a specific direction.

FAQs

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

You can use "on their way" to indicate that someone or something is currently traveling to a specific location. For example, "The packages are "en route" and will arrive soon".

What are some alternatives to "on their way"?

Alternatives include phrases like "approaching", "in transit", or "heading towards", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "on it's way" instead of "on their way"?

No, "on it's way" is incorrect when referring to a plural subject. Use "on its way" for singular, inanimate subjects, and "on their way" for plural subjects.

What's the difference between "on their way" and "about to arrive"?

"On their way" implies movement is currently happening, while "about to arrive" suggests the arrival is imminent. For example, "The pizza is "about to arrive"" suggests it's very close, while "The pizza is on its way" means it has left the restaurant.