their individual

USAGE SUMMARY

"their individual" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It can be used in any context where you are referring to the individual characteristics of a person or group. For example: "The students in the class all came from different backgrounds and had their individual talents and skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is their individual strength.

The New York Times

Yet gamers differ in their individual needs.

The Economist

Their individual roles are discussed below.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They have their individual styles and forms".

The New York Times

Not by their individual humanity.

The New York Times

Everyone is valued for their individual expertise.

The Guardian

Their individual voices should stand out.

The New York Times

Yet they all preserved their individual styles.

The New York Times - Arts

Their individual timbres are finely balanced.

The New York Times - Arts

Their individual independence is not in doubt.

The Guardian

Their individual rules may cause the disparity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "their individual" to emphasize the distinct nature or characteristics of multiple entities within a group, highlighting that each possesses unique qualities or attributes.

Common error

Avoid using "their individual" when the possessive is already clear from the context. For example, instead of "each student had their individual book", consider "each student had their own book" or "each student had a book" if the individuality is implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their individual" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It serves to specify that the following noun refers to something that is unique or specific to each member of a group. Ludwig AI confirms its common and acceptable usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "their individual" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that serves to emphasize the distinctiveness of attributes or characteristics pertaining to members of a group. It's versatile enough for use across different registers, as stated by Ludwig AI, and is particularly common in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, it's advisable to avoid redundancy by ensuring the possessive context isn't already implied. Alternatives such as "their unique" or "their respective" may be considered for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their own individual

Adds emphasis to the idea of individuality using a redundant construction.

their unique

Focuses on the distinctiveness and singularity of each entity.

their specific

Highlights the individual characteristics in more detail.

their personal

Emphasizes the private and specific nature related to each person.

their singular

Underscores the uniqueness and one-of-a-kind nature of each.

their particular

Focuses on specific and precise aspects of each.

each of their

Highlights the separateness of each member of a group.

every individual's

Shifts the focus to each individual from the group.

their respective

Indicates a connection to each individual in a group in relation to something else.

separately, their

Highlights the act of considering or treating each entity apart from others.

FAQs

How do I use "their individual" in a sentence?

Use "their individual" to specify that each member of a group has a unique characteristic or attribute. For example, "The team members brought their individual skills to the project".

What can I say instead of "their individual"?

You can use alternatives like "their unique", "their personal", or "their respective" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "their own individual"?

Yes, using "their own individual" can be redundant. It's often better to use either "their own" or "their individual" to avoid unnecessary repetition.

How does "their individual" compare to "each of their"?

"Their individual" emphasizes the unique attributes possessed by members of a group, while "each of their" highlights that every member is being considered separately. For example, you might say "their individual strengths" versus "each of their roles".