owning

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'owning' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone holds legal possession of something. For example: "The young couple was excited about owning their first home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

By owning your own property, you get a say in planning law too – your objection to that new tower block counts for far more than the indirect, dissipated unease of all the people hunting desperately for somewhere affordable in the vague vicinity of their work.

The Guardian - Opinion

By owning shares in these firms, the Gates and Wellcome foundations are profiting from activity that's destroying the planet.

The Guardian

Derbyshire feel hamstrung by not owning their own ground and believe that having access to grants via council backing would help generate larger revenue streams.

The Guardian - Sport

It's noteworthy that both Eminem and Justin Timberlake scored huge first-week sales in 2013: their fans grew up purchasing CDs, and owning music.

The Guardian - Music

From the very first day we decided that our aim in life was that we wanted to bring that visceral pleasure of owning a brilliant piece of engineering on your wrist to as many people as we could.

The Guardian

The richest 1% of the world's population are getting wealthier, owning more than 48% of global wealth, according to a report published on Tuesday which warned growing inequality could be a trigger for recession.

The Guardian - Business

Our vision as a party must start with the aspirations of voters: to get on and up in the world, to see their children and grandchildren do better than they did, to get that better job, to move from renting to owning, to take the family on holiday, to move from that flat to that house with a garden.

The Guardian - Opinion

Wary, too, of advocating a tyranny of the nominal – a taxonomic need to point and name, with the intent of citing and owning – when in fact I perceive no opposition between precision and mystery, or between naming and not knowing.

The Guardian - Books

Usually, the first thing to do was to sign up on a decade-long waiting list to register your interest in owning a vehicle.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Are you so horribly spoilt that you don't even know your few slaves, or such a fat cat that you own more slaves than you can possibly remember?" The problem, for Seneca, is not that owning slaves is bad for the slaves, or that the rich man's wealth might be better spent feeding the hungry than buying another ivory-legged table.

The Guardian - Books

Property owning households also provide values for any mortgages held against property/properties so that net property wealth can be estimated Physical wealth: the value of a household's contents, possessions and valuables in their main residence and any other properties owned.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the benefits of "owning" something, specify the type of ownership (e.g., legal, beneficial) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "owning" when simply "having" is more appropriate. "Owning" implies legal or significant possession, whereas "having" is more general.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "owning" is as a gerund or present participle, functioning as a noun or part of a continuous verb form. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

23%

Travel

5%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "owning" functions primarily as a gerund or present participle, denoting the act of possessing something with legal or significant control. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatile usage across various contexts. Its frequency is very common, appearing most often in news, business and travel related sources. While alternatives like "having possession of" or "being in control of" exist, "owning" specifically implies legal rights and responsibilities. A key writing tip is to avoid overusing "owning" when simple "having" suffices. By understanding its nuances and contexts, you can effectively integrate "owning" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintaining ownership of

This emphasizes the ongoing act of keeping ownership.

having possession of

This phrase emphasizes the state of possessing something, often implying a legal right.

in possession of

This phrase indicates having something physically or legally.

holding title to

This phrase is more formal and specifically refers to legal ownership of property.

having in one's possession

This emphasizes the act of personally possessing an item.

in control of

This phrase shifts the focus to the act of managing or directing something.

being the proprietor of

This phrase emphasizes the role of ownership in a business or enterprise.

exerting control over

This implies a more active and forceful form of control.

exercising stewardship over

This emphasizes responsible management and care for something owned.

being vested with

This phrase indicates that ownership or power has been formally granted.

FAQs

How is "owning" used in a sentence?

You can use "owning" to describe the state of possessing something legally or significantly. For example, "The joy of "owning a home" is a common aspiration".

What phrases are similar to "owning"?

Similar phrases include "having possession of", "in control of", and "holding title to", each with slightly different nuances.

When is it better to use "having" instead of "owning"?

"Having" is more appropriate when describing temporary or less significant possession. Use "owning" when referring to legal or substantial control.

What's the difference between "owning" and "possessing"?

"Owning" typically implies legal rights and responsibilities, while "possessing" can refer to physical control without legal ownership.