their own work

USAGE SUMMARY

'their own work' is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a group of people who have done something independently without assistance. For example: "The students submitted their own work to the teacher for marking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So does their own work.

The New Yorker

They undervalue their own work.

The New York Times

First they must appraise their own work.

The New York Times

Sometimes artists wreck their own work.

The Guardian - Music

"It is 100% their own work.

The Guardian

Teach them to critique their own work.

The New York Times - Tech

Isn't their own work partly to blame?

The Guardian

Do his colleagues feel unfettered in their own work?

The New York Times

Ultimately, their own work became suffused with the folk spirit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the very least, it should reflect their own work.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I don't think anyone can edit their own work.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "their own work" to clearly indicate that a group is responsible for a task without external assistance. This emphasizes autonomy and ownership.

Common error

Do not use "their own work" when referring to collaborative projects where contributions are mixed. In such cases, specify individual roles or simply refer to it as "our work" or "the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their own work" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It indicates possession and emphasizes that the work belongs to and was created by the group being referred to. Ludwig's examples show it used across various contexts to denote independent effort.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

30%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "their own work" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize that a task or project was completed independently by a group, highlighting ownership and autonomy. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, selecting alternative phrases like "their individual efforts" or "their personal projects" may enhance clarity or formality depending on the specific context. When using "their own work", ensure the context accurately reflects independent effort to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their individual efforts

Focuses on the separate contributions made by each member of a group, highlighting individual input.

their personal projects

Emphasizes the personal nature and investment in the work being done, making it about passion rather than obligation.

their independent creations

Highlights the self-governed and original aspect of the work, emphasizing creativity and autonomy.

their self-made endeavors

Underscores the effort and investment put into the work, suggesting a challenging but rewarding process.

their original compositions

Focuses specifically on creative works like music, writing, or art, emphasizing their uniqueness.

their handcrafted pieces

Highlights the personal and meticulous approach to creating something with significant care and skill.

their authored manuscripts

Specifically related to academic or literary context, implies formal writing and scholarly effort.

their constructed frameworks

Refers to building models or systems which requires methodical construction and design.

their produced deliverables

Highlights completion and concrete results of work, focusing on professional or project-based outputs.

their realized ambitions

Shifts focus to successfully achieving goals or fulfilling long-held aspirations through dedicated work.

FAQs

How can I use "their own work" in a sentence?

Use "their own work" to emphasize that a group or team completed a task independently. For example, "The students completed their own work without any help from the teacher."

What are some alternatives to "their own work"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "their individual efforts", "their personal projects", or "their independent creations".

Is it better to say "their work" or "their own work"?

"Their own work" emphasizes independence and individual responsibility more strongly than simply "their work". Use "their own work" when highlighting autonomy is important.

Can "their own work" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

Yes, "their own work" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal settings, you might consider alternatives such as "their independent creations" or "their self-made endeavors" for added emphasis.