without his help

USAGE SUMMARY

"without his help" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone who has been previously mentioned in the sentence or conversation. For example, "I couldn't have finished the project without his help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The buyers are incapable of uttering them without his help.

The New York Times - Arts

"Without his help that man would have died," Mr Sadler said.

Independent

"It never would have made it out of the Senate without his help, period.

The New York Times

"Without his help, my parents wouldn't have survived, and I wouldn't be here.

The New York Times

A male clerk loudly scolded her for examining the merchandise without his help.

The New Yorker

Without his help, she said, her hive would not have survived.

The New York Times

"Without his help," Mr. Dodd said of Mr. Bush, "this bill would not have happened".

The New York Times

The spokesperson said the investigation could not progress without his help.

The Guardian

And she acknowledged that she would not have produced her book without his help.

The Guardian

(Jaegers refused to do it, so the statue was modified without his help).

The New York Times - Arts

But for now, it looks like technology companies may try to get by without his help.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without his help", ensure the context clearly identifies who "his" refers to, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid placing phrases containing "without his help" in a way that creates ambiguity. Ensure it clearly modifies the intended verb or noun. For example, instead of "Without his help, the project failed miserably", write "The project failed miserably without his help" or "Because he didn't help, the project failed miserably".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without his help" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the absence of assistance from a specific male individual. It sets a condition under which an action occurs or a state exists, as seen in many examples provided by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

27%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without his help" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase widely used across diverse contexts to convey the absence of assistance from a particular male individual. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent appearance in reliable sources. While the phrase is suitable for neutral and professional settings, writers should ensure clarity in identifying "his" and be mindful of potential gender specificity. Alternatives like "absent his assistance" or "lacking his support" offer more formal options, but the core meaning remains consistent across various forms. Proper placement of the phrase prevents ambiguity, making it a versatile tool for expressing independence, resilience, or acknowledging missed contributions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without his input

Emphasizes the absence of his suggestions or ideas.

excluding his contribution

Focuses specifically on the missing contribution.

unassisted by him

Highlights that no assistance was provided by the person.

lacking his support

Highlights the absence of emotional or practical backing.

devoid of his support

Stronger emphasis on the complete absence of support.

absent his assistance

Formal alternative, emphasizes the lack of formal assistance.

independent of his aid

Stresses the self-sufficiency and lack of reliance.

but for him

A more succinct expression highlighting the critical role played by the individual.

notwithstanding his efforts

Acknowledges effort, but implies it wasn't helpful or relevant.

on one's own merit

Focuses on the concept of achieving something through personal abilities, without assistance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "without his help" to sound more formal?

You can use more formal alternatives such as "absent his assistance", "lacking his support", or "independent of his aid" for a more refined tone. Each alternative, as exemplified by /s/absent+his+assistance, /s/lacking+his+support and /s/independent+of+his+aid, adds a distinct nuance suitable for various formal contexts.

Is it correct to say "I could not have done it without his help"?

Yes, it is a perfectly correct and commonly used expression. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and appears frequently in reliable sources.

What is a synonym for the phrase "without his help"?

Synonyms include phrases like "unassisted by him", "excluding his contribution", or "but for him". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey, with /s/unassisted+by+him emphasizing lack of assistance, /s/excluding+his+contribution highlighting his missing contribution and /s/but+for+him expressing gratitude for his indispensable role.

How does using "without his help" affect the tone of a sentence?

The phrase "without his help" generally conveys a sense of challenge or difficulty overcome despite the lack of assistance. Depending on context, it can also express gratitude if implying that his help would have been valuable, but it was not available, or emphasize the independence in carrying out a task. This contrasts with phrases such as "with his assistance" which imply support and ease.