respective houses

USAGE SUMMARY

"respective houses" is correct and often used in written English.
It usually is used to refer to two separate places that are owned or maintained by two different groups. For example, you could say: The employees from the two companies visited each other's respective houses to work on the joint project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

He told of two women arguing, as they stood on the doorsteps of their respective houses.

The Guardian - Books

When Bishop and his wife finally make up, they sell their respective houses and buy a bigger one.

The Guardian

Ray delivered the girls decorously back, eventually, to the doorsteps of their respective houses in Fishponds and Stoke Bishop.

The New Yorker

Senator Tom Harkin and congressman George Miller, who introduced $10.10 bills in their respective houses, both retired from Congress this year.

The Guardian - Money

The Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans give each other total leeway to draw the lines for their respective houses as they see fit.

The New York Times

The reason is that the two of them not only have seniority in the Legislature but also have close ties to the leaders of their respective houses.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Considering their respective "house effects," both polls are consistent with the forecast model's prior take on Colorado, which puts Mr. Obama ahead there by slightly under three percentage points.

The New York Times

However, most people are inclined to say that Jack and Jill's respective house purchases were motivated by the same reason.

SEP

In contrast, housing prices in India and Russia have already fallen as domestic political problems have contributed to cooling their respective housing markets.

Huffington Post

It's possible more and more young people could turn to this solution as a way of finding some sort of manageable solution to their country's respective housing crisis.

Vice

When the procedure created by the Royal Assent Act 1967 is followed, assent is considered granted when the presiding officers of both houses, having received the letters patent from the king or queen signifying the assent, have notified their respective house of the grant of Royal Assent.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "respective houses", ensure it's clear which individuals or entities each house belongs to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "respective houses" when you mean "shared houses". "Respective" implies each person or entity has their own separate house, not a common dwelling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "respective houses" functions as a determiner phrase specifying that different individuals or entities each possess their own separate houses. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which showcase how it clarifies ownership in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "respective houses" is deemed grammatically correct and commonly used, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to denote individual ownership or affiliation with distinct houses. The phrase is most frequently encountered in News & Media sources. While the term 'respective' lends a slightly formal tone, its usage remains neutral across various contexts, without being perceived as overly formal or informal. The word's meaning is best suited to specify distinct properties rather than a shared one. Ludwig's examples demonstrate the phrase's effectiveness in ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity regarding residence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respective homes

Uses "homes" instead of "houses", offering a slightly more personal or informal connotation.

their separate houses

Emphasizes the separation and individuality of the houses.

each of their houses

Highlights that each person or entity has their own house.

houses of their own

Focuses on the ownership aspect of the houses.

their individual houses

Underscores the distinct nature of each house.

their corresponding houses

Implies a direct relationship or association between the individuals and their houses.

separate residences

Replaces "houses" with "residences", making it more formal.

individual dwellings

Uses "dwellings" instead of "houses", sounding more technical.

their particular houses

Highlights the specificity of each house.

their allocated houses

Suggests that the houses were assigned or designated to them.

FAQs

How to use "respective houses" in a sentence?

Use "respective houses" when referring to different houses belonging to different individuals or groups. For example: "After the meeting, the delegates returned to their respective houses".

What can I say instead of "respective houses"?

You can use alternatives like "respective homes", "their separate houses", or "each of their houses" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "each respective house"?

While "respective" already implies 'each', saying "each respective house" is somewhat redundant. It's generally better to simply use "respective houses" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What's the difference between "respective houses" and "shared houses"?

"Respective houses" means each person has their own house. "Shared houses" indicates that people live together in the same house.