they split up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they split up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the end of a relationship or partnership between two or more people. Example: "After several years together, they split up and decided to go their separate ways."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They split up.

The New Yorker

They split up in 2001.

Independent

Then they split up.

The Guardian - Music

(And they split up).

The New York Times - Magazine

Have they split up?

The Guardian - Music

After two years, they split up.

The New York Times

But instead they split up.

The New York Times

They split up soon afterward.

The New Yorker

They split up this year.

The Guardian

So they split up? "Yes.

The Guardian - Books

One grows unhappy, and they split up.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal legal writing, consider using "they separated" or "the marriage was dissolved" for greater precision.

Common error

Avoid using "they split up" without context if the subject could be interpreted as physically moving apart for a task rather than ending a relationship. For instance, in a rescue mission, "they split up" means they took different routes, while in a celebrity news context, it means they ended their marriage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they split up" functions as a subject followed by an intransitive phrasal verb. According to Ludwig examples, it is frequently used to denote the termination of a social, romantic, or professional bond. In linguistic terms, the particle 'up' serves as a telic marker, indicating the completion of the action of splitting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

General Biography

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Technical Manuals

1%

Legal Documents

1%

Poetry

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they split up" is a highly versatile and correct English expression used to describe the end of relationships, bands, or the division of groups for a specific task. Analysis from Ludwig AI shows that it appears frequently in high-authority news sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While it is perfectly acceptable in most writing, writers should be aware of its slight informality compared to terms like "separated" or "dissolved". It is most effective when used in narrative or journalistic contexts to describe a clear point of departure between two or more parties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

They broke up

More specifically denotes the end of a romantic relationship.

They ended their relationship

A direct and descriptive literal alternative.

They split

A shorter, more colloquial version of the phrase.

They parted ways

A more formal or professional way to describe a separation.

They separated

Often used in legal contexts or to imply a trial period of living apart.

They went their separate ways

Emphasizes the diverging paths of the individuals involved.

They disbanded

Specifically applied to music groups, organizations, or organized teams.

They called it quits

An idiomatic, informal expression for ending a joint effort or relationship.

They dissolved their partnership

Appropriate for formal business or legal arrangements.

They divided

Focuses on the physical act of splitting a group into units rather than a relationship.

FAQs

How to use "they split up" in a sentence?

You can use "they split up" to describe the end of a union, such as "after ten years of marriage, they split up" or to describe a group dividing, like "the hikers decided they split up to cover more ground."

What can I say instead of "they split up"?

Depending on the context, you can use "they broke up", "they parted ways", or ""they separated"".

Which is correct, "they split up" or "they split"?

Both are correct, but "they split up" is more common when referring to relationships. "they split" is often used in informal contexts or to mean they left a place quickly.

Is "they split up" formal enough for business?

While it is used in news media, for a professional business report regarding a merger or partnership, it is better to use "they dissolved the partnership".