the world's

USAGE SUMMARY

"the world's" is a perfectly correct phrase to use in written English.
It is used to refer to something belonging to the world at large. For example, "The world's population has been growing steadily for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The world's at his feet.

Independent

The world's most powerful laser.

The New York Times

That's the world's dirty secret".

The New York Times

She's the world's oldest woman?

Independent

"It's the world's sport".

BBC

He's the world's oldest billionaire.

Los Angeles Times

That's the world's problem.

Unicef

It's in the world's interest.

Forbes

All the world's information?

The Economist

"The world's too small.

The New York Times

"The world's moved on.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the world's" to specify possession or association with the world, such as "the world's resources" or "the world's largest city."

Common error

Avoid using "the world's" when a simple adjective like "global" or "international" would suffice and sound more natural. For example, instead of "the world's economy", consider "the global economy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the world's" functions primarily as a possessive determiner. It indicates that what follows belongs to or is associated with the world. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, reinforcing its role in establishing a relationship between the world and a specific noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the world's" is a possessive phrase used to indicate association or ownership related to the world. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used in a variety of contexts, mainly in news and media, but also in formal business settings. When you want to use a different wording, you can use alternatives such as "global", "worldwide", or "international" depending on the context. Remember to consider whether the possessive form is necessary or if a simple adjective is more appropriate for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

global

Focuses on the worldwide scope or impact, omitting the possessive form.

worldwide

Emphasizes the distribution or prevalence across the globe, using a single adjective.

international

Highlights the involvement or comparison between different nations.

planetary

Refers to the entire planet as a whole, often used in scientific or environmental contexts.

on a global scale

Specifies the magnitude or extent of something happening across the world.

across the globe

Indicates a widespread distribution or occurrence, replacing the possessive with a prepositional phrase.

at the global level

Highlights the international or worldwide perspective, using a formal tone.

in the international arena

Emphasizes the global stage or platform where events or interactions take place.

of global significance

Indicates the importance or impact on a worldwide scale, replacing the possessive with a descriptive phrase.

in terms of global reach

Focuses on the extent to which something affects or influences the entire world.

FAQs

How can I use "the world's" in a sentence?

Use "the world's" to indicate possession or a unique characteristic of the world, for instance, "the world's oceans" or "the world's population". It helps specify something belonging to or being characteristic of the entire planet.

What are some alternatives to using "the world's"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "global", "worldwide", or "international". These options can sometimes be more concise and appropriate.

Is it always necessary to use "the world's" or can I sometimes omit it?

In some cases, you can omit "the world's" if the context makes it clear that you are referring to something on a global scale. For example, instead of "the world's climate", you might simply say "global climate".

What's the difference between using "the world's" and "global"?

"The world's" indicates possession or a unique attribute, while "global" functions as an adjective describing something related to the entire world. "The world's resources" refers to the resources belonging to the world, while "global issues" refers to issues affecting the entire world.