their smiles

USAGE SUMMARY

'their smiles' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the facial expression of more than one person, for example: "Their smiles lit up the room as they entered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They lose their smiles.

The New York Times

Many had lost their smiles.

The New Yorker

Their smiles said it all.

The New York Times

Then their smiles vanished.

The Guardian - Books

Their smiles are genuine.

The Guardian - Travel

Lately, their smiles have been getting thinner.

The Economist

Their smiles grew as the melody soared.

The New York Times - Sports

Then their smiles would falter.

The New York Times

Recent history was evident in their smiles.

The Guardian

Their smiles, playfulness, and energy were contagious.

The New York Times

Their smiles were frozen in time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context when using "their smiles". If you need to emphasize a more intense happiness, consider alternatives like "their grins" or "their beaming faces".

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "their" clearly refers to a plural subject to avoid ambiguity. If the subject is singular, use "his smile" or "her smile" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their smiles" functions as a noun phrase, where "their" acts as a possessive pronoun modifying the noun "smiles". It typically serves as the subject or object of a verb, describing the collective expression of happiness or approval. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "their smiles" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys the shared happiness or positive emotion of a group. According to Ludwig AI, its correctness and common usage are well-established. The phrase is most often found in news and media contexts, indicating its widespread applicability. When using "their smiles", ensure clarity in pronoun reference and consider related phrases like "their grins" or "their beaming faces" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their grins

Replaces "smiles" with "grins", suggesting a broader, more expressive smile.

their beaming faces

Emphasizes the brightness and radiance of their smiles.

their radiant expressions

Replaces the more neutral "smiles" with the more emphatic "radiant expressions".

their laughter

Shifts the focus from the visual expression to the audible expression of joy.

their delighted expressions

Highlights the feeling of delight reflected in their faces.

their happy faces

Replaces "smiles" with a broader description of facial expression.

their sparkling eyes

Shifts the focus from the mouth to the eyes as indicators of happiness.

the joy on their faces

Focuses on the underlying emotion rather than the specific expression.

their cheerful countenances

Uses a more formal and less common term for facial expression.

their cheerful visages

A more formal and archaic way of referring to their faces.

FAQs

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

You can use "their smiles" to describe a group of people expressing happiness. For example, "Their smiles lit up the room" or "Their smiles were contagious".

What are some alternatives to "their smiles"?

Alternatives to "their smiles" include "their grins", "their laughter", or "their beaming faces", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "there smiles" instead of "their smiles"?

No, "there smiles" is grammatically incorrect. "Their" is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership or association, while "there" indicates a place or existence. The correct phrase is "their smiles".

What's the difference between "his smile", "her smile", and "their smiles"?

"His smile" refers to the smile of a single male, "her smile" refers to the smile of a single female, and "their smiles" refers to the smiles of multiple people.