ours alone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ours alone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something belongs exclusively to a specific group or individual. Example: "This victory is ours alone, and we should celebrate our hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It appears, however, that the Supreme Court has determined that only portions of a person's privacy can be protected, and over the years the judicial system has increasingly given freer reign to politicians and to the private corporations lobbying them to take and make use of what was once commonly thought to be ours and ours alone: our very most personal and private information.

Huffington Post

The freedom to give ourselves a break and make the best decision we can for our careers and our family is ours alone.

Huffington Post

We take it for granted that the contents of our thoughts are ours alone, that they are safely hidden away in the sanctum of our mind.

Forbes

"We wouldn't need so many damn rape poems if our bodies were ours alone," they say.

Huffington Post

Our decisions aren't ours alone to make.

Harvard University

In this new media world, our work isn't ours alone.

Harvard University

True, the taste is ours alone, representative of our traditions…but nobody wants 'em.

Forbes

Our decision will be ours alone, based on the record of Bird and the four other justices who face confirmation.

Los Angeles Times

Our thoughts are ours and ours alone, choose happy.

Huffington Post

Like many philosophers and psychologists, he believes that what we call the self may be not a wonderful inner thing that is ours alone, and the framer of our destiny, but just the sum of our experience.

The New Yorker

Something precious will have been lost to the human condition because our inner lives will no longer be ours alone.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ours alone" to emphasize exclusivity and personal connection to a possession, achievement, or responsibility. For example, "This victory is "ours alone", earned through our collective effort."

Common error

Avoid using "ours alone" when you actually mean "we are alone". "Ours alone" signifies possession, while "we are alone" indicates a state of being. Don't say "We felt "ours alone" in the empty house" when you mean "We felt we were the only people there".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ours alone" functions as a possessive pronoun followed by an adjective, emphasizing exclusive ownership or responsibility. As Ludwig AI highlights, it indicates that something belongs uniquely to a specified group. The examples show its use in diverse contexts from personal feelings to collective achievements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

7%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ours alone" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to emphasize exclusive ownership, responsibility, or connection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a possessive pronoun followed by an adjective, effectively conveying that something belongs uniquely to a specified group. Analysis of example sentences reveals the phrase's usage across various contexts, from personal reflections to collective endeavors reported in the news. While primarily found in neutral registers, the core purpose remains consistent: to assert exclusivity and personal significance. Understanding its meaning and appropriate usage ensures clear and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exclusively ours

This phrase directly replaces 'ours alone' with a synonym emphasizing exclusivity.

solely ours

This phrase uses 'solely' to underscore that something belongs to no one else.

belonging only to us

Changes the structure to a participial phrase, clarifying to whom something belongs.

exclusively our own

Adds 'own' for emphasis and maintains the sense of exclusivity.

our exclusive domain

Uses 'domain' to suggest an area or sphere of control that is exclusive.

our private reserve

Emphasizes the personal and restricted nature of something.

reserved only for us

Highlights that something is set aside and not accessible to others.

something only we possess

Focuses on the act of possession and emphasizes uniqueness.

a right we alone hold

Highlights the unique entitlement to something.

distinctively ours

Conveys the idea that something is uniquely characteristic of a group.

FAQs

How can I use "ours alone" in a sentence?

The phrase "ours alone" emphasizes that something belongs exclusively to a specific group or individual. For example, "This responsibility is "ours alone", and we must handle it carefully."

What is an alternative to "ours alone"?

You can use phrases like "exclusively ours", "solely ours", or "belonging only to us" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it's ours alone"?

Yes, "it's ours alone" is grammatically correct. It means that something belongs exclusively to us and no one else.

What does "ours alone" imply?

The phrase "ours alone" implies a sense of exclusivity, ownership, and responsibility. It suggests that a particular thing, task, or experience is uniquely connected to a specific group or individual.