their happiness

USAGE SUMMARY

'their happiness' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a possessive pronoun referring to a group or individual. For example: The students shared their happiness when they received the good news.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was their happiness.

The New York Times - Arts

Their happiness surely couldn't last.

Independent

"People express their happiness," he said.

The New York Times

Their happiness was short-lived, however.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Or, most wounding of all, their happiness?

The New Yorker

Their happiness affected me, day by day.

The New York Times

I hope they found their happiness".

Independent

"Their beauty and their happiness.

The Guardian - Books

Their happiness was short-lived.

The New York Times

The secret to their happiness?

Harvard Business Review

Help someone else celebrate their happiness.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "their happiness", ensure you clearly define who "they" are to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "the team's happiness" or "the community's happiness".

Common error

Avoid attributing a single source to "their happiness". Happiness is often multifaceted, stemming from various factors like relationships, achievements, and personal fulfillment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their happiness" functions as a noun phrase, where "their" acts as a possessive adjective modifying the noun "happiness". It denotes the state of being happy experienced by a group of individuals or entities. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "their happiness" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the happiness experienced by a group. According to Ludwig, its correctness is confirmed, and its usage spans across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. While the phrase maintains a generally neutral tone, it's important to clearly define who "their" refers to and consider the multifaceted nature of happiness. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively and accurately convey the intended meaning in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their joy

Focuses specifically on the emotion of joy, a component of overall happiness.

their well-being

Refers to a broader state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.

their contentment

Emphasizes a state of peaceful satisfaction.

their satisfaction

Highlights the fulfillment of needs or desires.

their pleasure

Focuses on enjoyment and delight.

their cheerfulness

Indicates a state of being noticeably happy and optimistic.

their good spirits

Describes a positive and lively mood.

their high spirits

Implies a state of exhilaration and enthusiasm.

their delight

Suggests a feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction.

their jubilation

Denotes extreme happiness and celebration.

FAQs

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

You can use "their happiness" to describe the overall well-being or joy experienced by a group of people. For example, "The company prioritized measures to improve their happiness and job satisfaction."

What's a good alternative to using the phrase "their happiness"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "their joy", "their well-being", or "their satisfaction".

How do I ensure I'm using "their happiness" correctly?

Make sure it's clear who "their" refers to and that the context appropriately reflects a sense of contentment or well-being for that group.

Is "their happiness" formal or informal?

"Their happiness" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The overall tone of your writing will determine the most appropriate phrasing. More formal situations might benefit from phrases like "their prosperity" or "their welfare".