played their part

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "played their part" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that someone or something contributed to a larger effort or purpose. For example, "The volunteers played their part in setting up the event and ensuring it was a success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fordham University football reached a milestone yesterday when the Rams played their 1,000th game.

The New York Times - Sports

On average, respondents played their last year of collegiate sports slightly longer ago than non-respondents (P < 0.001).

Injury Epidemiology

Dixie Chicks, the notoriously left-leaning cowgirl trio, played their summer show but distributed anti-HB2 hats to its audience.

Forbes

They played their last two friendlies without their foreign-based players because of club commitments and the Faz is delighted with the preparation so far.

BBC

Iginla and Daymond Langkow each played their 1,000th games in February.

Wikipedia

The Longhorns played their 2007 Spring Jamboree Scrimmage on March 31 , 2007and reported for fall practice on August 5, 2007.

Wikipedia

Jeter and Posada played their 1,660th game together on July 14 , 2011 breaking the previous franchise record of 1,659 by Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri.

Wikipedia

The day following the MVP award, the Colts played their 2007 nemesis, the Chargers, in their wild-card playoff game.

Wikipedia

During the season, Iginla and Langkow reached significant career milestones on consecutive nights as they played their 1,000th career games in the NHL.

Wikipedia

The hometown Washington Huskies played their 2005 season opener against the Air Force Falcons at the stadium in Tyrone Willingham's first game as head coach.

Wikipedia

The franchise reached two milestones during the season: In November, Curtis Glencross scored the 10,000th goal in franchise history dating back to the founding of the Atlanta Flames in 1972, and in January, the Flames played their 3,000th game.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the collective nature of a contribution, use "played their part" to highlight individual roles within a larger effort. For example, "Each team member "played their part" in the project's success."

Common error

Avoid using "played their part" when describing a single person's overwhelming influence. It's more appropriate when multiple individuals contribute to a shared outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "played their part" functions as a verb phrase indicating that individuals or entities have contributed to a particular outcome or event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "played their part" correctly describes the contributions made by individuals towards a shared objective. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in various contexts, as shown by the examples extracted from reliable sources like BBC and Forbes. While not extremely frequent, the phrase is readily understood and can be used effectively to emphasize the cooperative nature of an undertaking. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a contribution to a collective endeavor rather than a single person's dominant influence. Alternatives such as ""contributed their share"" or "fulfilled their role" may also be considered depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made a contribution

Highlights the act of giving or adding something of value.

contributed their share

Focuses on the contribution made by each individual, implying a proportional contribution.

took part effectively

Implies successful participation and impact.

did their bit

An informal expression suggesting a small but important contribution.

assisted in the effort

Focuses on providing help or support to a collective endeavor.

fulfilled their role

Emphasizes the execution of a specific task or responsibility.

collaborated successfully

Highlights the cooperative aspect and positive outcome of the participation.

performed their duty

Highlights a sense of obligation or responsibility in completing a task.

had a hand in

Suggests involvement or influence in something.

participated actively

Stresses the engagement and involvement of individuals in an activity.

FAQs

How can I use "played their part" in a sentence?

Use "played their part" to indicate that individuals or entities contributed to a specific outcome or event, such as "The volunteers "contributed their share" in setting up the event."

What are some alternatives to "played their part"?

You can use alternatives like ""contributed their share"", "did their bit", or "fulfilled their role" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say someone "played its part" instead of "played their part"?

While "played its part" can be correct, it is typically used when referring to an inanimate object or a non-human entity. Use "played their part" when referring to a group of people or entities.

What's the difference between "played a role" and "played their part"?

"Played a role" is a more general term indicating involvement, while "played their part" suggests a specific contribution towards a collective goal or effort. The latter implies a sense of duty or responsibility.