this belongs to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this belongs to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate ownership or association with something or someone. Example: "This book belongs to Sarah, so please return it to her when you're done."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This belongs to your cousin but your mother was drinking it when he got up to go to the bathroom.

Huffington Post

This belongs to our history.

The New York Times - Arts

This belongs to our people.

The New York Times - Arts

This belongs to the community.

The New York Times - Arts

This belongs to the Egyptian youth".

The New York Times

This belongs to a cooperative phenomenon.

Electrochimica Acta

I'm glad this belongs to us.

The New York Times

None of this belongs to Congo alone.

The New York Times - Magazine

"This belongs to the legacy of China.

The New York Times

"So," said my guide, "this belongs to the sheik".

The New York Times - Magazine

This belongs to the NP-hard class of problems.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating possession, ensure the context clearly defines the "owner". For example, "This report belongs to the marketing department" is more precise than "This belongs to marketing."

Common error

Avoid using "this belongs to" when the relationship is not about ownership but rather association. Instead of saying "This belongs to the problem", use "This is related to the problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this belongs to" functions as a declarative expression of ownership or affiliation. It establishes a direct link between the subject (this) and the entity to which it is attributed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this belongs to" is a common and grammatically sound way to express ownership, association, or categorization. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and versatility. It is most frequently used in news and media, science, and business contexts. While straightforward, clarity is crucial: ensure the "owner" is clearly defined. Alternatives like "this is the property of" can add formality, while "this is associated with" broadens the relationship beyond direct ownership.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this is the property of

Focuses specifically on ownership, emphasizing legal or rightful possession.

this is owned by

A more direct statement of ownership, suitable for formal contexts.

this is associated with

Indicates a connection or relationship, not necessarily ownership.

this is connected to

Highlights a link or association, suggesting a relationship rather than direct ownership.

this is classified as

Indicates categorization or classification within a system.

this falls under the category of

A formal way to indicate that something belongs to a specific group or type.

this is part of

Indicates that something is a component or element of a larger whole.

this is attributed to

Suggests that something is caused by or credited to a particular source.

this is the responsibility of

Indicates who is accountable or in charge of something.

this is under the purview of

A formal way of saying that something is within someone's area of authority or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "this belongs to" in a sentence?

Use "this belongs to" to clearly indicate ownership. For example, "This book belongs to Sarah" or "This land belongs to the state".

What's a more formal alternative to "this belongs to"?

For a more formal tone, you can use "this is the property of" or "this is owned by".

When should I use "this is associated with" instead of "this belongs to"?

Use "this is associated with" when you want to indicate a relationship or connection, rather than direct ownership. For instance, "This symptom is associated with the disease".

Is it correct to say "this belongs to me and John" or "this belongs to John and I"?

The correct phrasing is "this belongs to John and me". The pronoun "me" is used because it is the object of the preposition "to".