owned by

USAGE SUMMARY

"owned by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an object, property, or business belongs to someone. For example, "This restaurant is owned by the Smith family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Agency: McGarryBowen, owned by Dentsu.

The New York Times

JWT is owned by WPP.

The New York Times

GroupM is owned by WPP.

The New York Times

(It is now owned by Alcatel-Lucent).

The New York Times

Which is owned by, um, the Yankees.

The New York Times - Sports

(The others are owned by franchisees).

The New York Times

Sprint is owned by Softbank of Japan.

The Economist

The Hornets are owned by the league.

The New York Times - Sports

— the company owned by Mr. Leb.

The New York Times

Time Inc. is owned by Time Warner.

The New York Times

Napoli is owned by a film mogul.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "owned by" when indicating clear ownership, whether of a company, property, or idea. This phrase clearly establishes who has the rights to something.

Common error

Avoid using "owned by" when you mean 'managed by' or 'operated by'. Ownership implies legal possession, while management refers to the day-to-day running of an entity. For example, a store might be "owned by" a corporation but "managed by" a local franchisee.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owned by" functions as a passive construction indicating possession or control. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Examples show it connecting entities to their owners.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "owned by" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to denote legal possession or control. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its high frequency across reputable news sources, encyclopedias, and general discourse underscores its broad applicability. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's crucial to distinguish ownership from management to ensure accuracy. Consider alternatives like "belonging to" or "under the ownership of" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

belonging to

Focuses on the concept of belonging rather than ownership, implying a potentially less formal relationship.

under the ownership of

More formal and emphasizes the legal aspect of ownership.

the property of

Formal and emphasizes legal ownership.

held by

Implies possession or control, often used in financial or legal contexts.

possessed by

Suggests a strong degree of control or influence, sometimes with a more figurative meaning.

controlled by

Highlights the aspect of control rather than necessarily ownership.

in the hands of

Emphasizes physical possession or immediate control.

is the responsibility of

Focuses on accountability and stewardship, not necessarily ownership.

under the management of

Highlights the role of management in overseeing the entity.

administered by

Focuses on the act of administering, often by an organization or institution.

FAQs

How do I use "owned by" in a sentence?

Use "owned by" to indicate who possesses something. For example, "The company is "owned by" a private investor" or "The building is "owned by" the city council".

What can I say instead of "owned by"?

You can use alternatives like "belonging to", "under the ownership of", or "held by" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "owned by" or "owned to"?

"Owned by" is the correct phrase to use when indicating possession. "Owned to" is not grammatically correct in this context.

What's the difference between "owned by" and "managed by"?

"Owned by" signifies legal possession, while "managed by" indicates who is responsible for the day-to-day operations. An entity can be "owned by" one party and "managed by" another.