support themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'support themselves' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone taking care of themselves independently and providing for their own needs without assistance. For example: After her father passed away, she had to support herself for the first time in her life.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Writers support themselves writing.

The New York Times

How would such projects support themselves?

The New York Times - Arts

The siblings support themselves on their own in Harlingen.

The New York Times

They all managed to find enough food to support themselves.

The New York Times

Should Washington support cities, like Detroit, that cannot support themselves?

The New York Times - Books

The inhabitants support themselves with subsistence agriculture and fishing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Big firms can now support themselves just from management fees.

The Economist

In addition, more and more students work to support themselves.

The New York Times

Some turn to petty crime to support themselves.

The Economist

There, they would have the means to support themselves.

The New York Times

To support themselves the couple worked as graphic designers.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about communities or groups, use "support themselves" to highlight their resourcefulness and ability to thrive independently.

Common error

Ensure that the subject and the reflexive pronoun correctly match in number. For example, use "themselves" with plural subjects and "himself/herself" with singular subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "support themselves" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is both performing and receiving the action. It signifies self-sufficiency and the ability to provide for one's own needs. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

23%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "support themselves" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express self-sufficiency and independence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's applicable across numerous contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and formal writing. While alternatives like "sustain themselves" or "provide for themselves" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be mindful of subject-pronoun agreement to avoid errors, and leverage this phrase to effectively communicate the ability of individuals or groups to thrive on their own.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustain themselves

Emphasizes the ability to continue living or existing, often in challenging circumstances.

provide for themselves

Focuses specifically on supplying basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.

take care of themselves

Highlights the aspect of looking after one's own well-being and health.

be self-sufficient

Stresses the ability to operate independently without external help.

be financially independent

Specifically refers to having enough money to live without reliance on others.

earn a living

Focuses on the act of obtaining money through work or services.

make ends meet

Highlights the struggle to balance income and expenses.

stand on their own feet

Idiomatic expression indicating the ability to be independent and self-reliant.

fend for themselves

Implies a more challenging or survival-oriented aspect of self-support.

be self-sustaining

Focuses on the long-term ability to maintain oneself or something without external resources.

FAQs

How do I use "support themselves" in a sentence?

Use "support themselves" when referring to a group's ability to provide for their own needs without external assistance. For instance: "The refugees learned new skills to "support themselves" after resettlement".

What's the difference between "support themselves" and "take care of themselves"?

"Support themselves" primarily refers to financial and material self-sufficiency, while "take care of themselves" emphasizes overall well-being, including health and personal needs. While related, they are not always interchangeable.

What are some alternatives to "support themselves"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "support themselves" include "sustain themselves", "provide for themselves", or "be self-sufficient".

Is it correct to say "support itself" instead of "support themselves"?

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "support itself" for singular, non-human subjects, like an organization. Use "support themselves" for plural subjects or when referring to people. The phrase you use should match the subject.