their duty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "their duty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a responsibility or obligation that belongs to a specific group of people. Example: "It is their duty to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It's their duty, religiously".

The New York Times

They did their duty.

The New Yorker

as part of their duty as Catholics.

Independent

But most soldiers did their duty.

The New York Times

"They only knew their duty".

The New York Times

They just did their duty.

The Guardian

None have had their duty status changed.

The New York Times

They were simply doing their duty.

The New York Times

They said they were doing their duty.

The New York Times

It was their duty, he said.

The New Yorker

Were they derelict in their duty?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "their duty", ensure the context clearly defines who "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For example, "It is the board members' duty to oversee the company's financial performance."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "their duty" encompasses all possible actions. Be specific about the limitations and boundaries of the duty being described to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their duty" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject complement or object of a preposition. It identifies a responsibility or obligation that a group is expected to fulfill. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "their duty" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the responsibilities or obligations of a group. According to Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. While alternatives like "their responsibility" and "their obligation" exist, "their duty" maintains a generally neutral tone. Effective use requires clear identification of who "they" refers to and a specific understanding of the duty's scope. Given its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, the phrase is a reliable choice for expressing collective accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their responsibility

Emphasizes the burden or accountability associated with the task.

their obligation

Highlights a formal or moral binding to a course of action.

their task

Refers to a specific job or assignment that has been given.

their role

Focuses on the expected function or part they play in a situation.

their function

Emphasizes the specific purpose they serve within a system.

their job

Informal term referring to work that must be done.

what is expected of them

Highlights external expectations placed upon them.

what they are bound to do

Stresses a legal or contractual requirement.

what falls to them

Indicates something that naturally becomes their responsibility.

their appointed task

Highlights a specific job or assignment that has been given in a formal way.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "their duty"?

"Their duty" refers to a responsibility or obligation that a group of people has to fulfill, often due to a moral, legal, or ethical commitment.

How can I use "their duty" in a sentence?

You can use "their duty" to describe a task or responsibility that a group is expected to perform. For example, "It is "their responsibility" to ensure the project is completed on time.".

What are some alternatives to "their duty"?

Alternatives to "their duty" include ""their responsibility"", "their obligation", or "their task", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it's their duty" or "it is their duty"?

Both "it's their duty" and "it is their duty" are grammatically correct. The former is a contraction of the latter and is generally considered more informal.