own up

USAGE SUMMARY

"own up" is a commonly used idiom meaning to admit to responsibility for something or to confess to having done something wrong.
It is correct and usable in written English. For example: The young boy was too embarrassed to own up to vandalizing the playground equipment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Does she own up?

The New Yorker

I can own up to that message".

The New York Times - Sports

We have to own up to it".

The New York Times - Sports

Did the United States own up, too?

The New York Times

I should own up.

The Guardian - Travel

Come on, own up?

The Guardian - Sport

I'll own up to that.

The Washington Post

We're going to own up to that.

The New Yorker

I own up to being a feminist.

The Times

They totally own up to their privilege.

The Guardian

Instead, own up to it quickly.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "own up" when you want to emphasize the act of admitting fault or taking responsibility, especially when there might be a reluctance to do so.

Common error

Avoid using "own" when you mean "own up". "Own" means to possess something, while "own up" means to admit fault or responsibility. For example, don't say "He owned to the mistake" when you mean "He owned up to the mistake".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "own up" is that of a phrasal verb. It requires a subject (who is owning up) and can be followed by "to" and the object of confession or the thing that one is accepting responsibility for. Ludwig AI confirms this common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "own up" is a common and generally accepted way to express admitting fault or taking responsibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used, particularly in news and media, though less so in highly formal contexts. When using "own up", ensure that you are not confusing it with the verb "own". Alternatives like "confess" or "admit responsibility" can be used for a more formal tone. Remember that while “"own to"” exists, "own up to" is the standard and more widely accepted form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fess up

An informal synonym for admitting to something, often used in casual conversation.

come clean

Suggests revealing the truth after a period of concealment.

admit responsibility

Focuses on accepting accountability for an action or event.

take responsibility for

Similar to "admit responsibility", but emphasizes the act of taking control.

acknowledge guilt

A formal way of recognizing and accepting one's culpability.

confess

A more formal and direct way of admitting guilt.

come forward

Suggests voluntarily revealing information, often about wrongdoing.

take the blame

Emphasizes accepting culpability, often when others are involved.

make a clean breast of

A somewhat old-fashioned idiom for confessing fully.

face the music

Implies accepting the consequences of one's actions.

FAQs

How can I use "own up" in a sentence?

You can use "own up" when you want to say that someone is admitting they did something wrong. For example: "He had to own up to breaking the window."

What's a more formal way to say "own up"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative to "own up", you could use "confess" or "admit responsibility". These options are suitable for professional or serious contexts.

Is it correct to say "own to" instead of "own up to"?

While "own to" might occasionally be used, it's more common and grammatically standard to use "own up to" when admitting responsibility. "Own up" functions as a phrasal verb.

What's the difference between "take responsibility" and "own up"?

While both phrases imply accepting accountability, "take responsibility" focuses more on the action of accepting control and dealing with the consequences, whereas "own up" emphasizes the act of admitting guilt or fault.