without their having

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without their having" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is done without the involvement or action of a specific group or individuals. Example: "The project was completed successfully without their having to contribute any additional resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Put in another family without their having any idea".

The New Yorker

We have treated them as independent nations, without their having any substantial pretensions to that rank.

Yale University

It offered audiences a pleasing sense of absurdity without their having to take responsibility for that.

The New Yorker

Exemptions You can leave things to certain people and organisations without their having to pay IHT.

The Guardian - Money

Meth kept people in the system without their having to think about it".

The Guardian - Books

Two or three months might go by now without their having sex.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Girls can get them without their parents having to pay the bill -- in fact, without their parents even knowing.

The New York Times

They'd been kidnapped without their families having the hope of anything but a funeral.

The New Yorker

Best of all, it is possible for students to begin working without their employers having to provide visa sponsorship.

University of Chicago

But the increase in children arriving without their parents has overwhelmed the US government.

The Guardian

So companies that cannot live without their files have to arrange a backup for safekeeping.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without their having" to clearly indicate when an action or outcome occurs independently of a specific group, emphasizing their lack of involvement or requirement. It can clarify responsibilities and expectations in complex scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "without their having" in simple sentences where a more direct construction would suffice. For example, instead of "The event succeeded without their having attended", consider "The event succeeded without them."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without their having" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating that an action or state occurs independently of a particular group or entity. It specifies a condition under which something happens, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

19%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without their having" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate that something occurs independently of a specific group's involvement or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and business communications. While alternatives like "without them needing to" and "without their knowledge" exist, "without their having" provides a clear and formal way to express the absence of participation or requirement. It's crucial to avoid overuse in simpler sentences where more direct language would suffice, ensuring clarity and conciseness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without them needing to

Emphasizes the lack of necessity for their involvement.

without their needing to

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize lack of necessity.

without requiring them to

Highlights the absence of a requirement for their action.

without them doing so

Focuses on the action not being performed by them.

without their consent

Highlights the absence of permission or agreement from their side.

unbeknownst to them

Emphasizes their lack of awareness.

without their knowledge

Highlights that they are not informed or aware.

without their contribution

Focuses on the absence of their contribution.

independent of them

Stresses the separation and lack of influence.

regardless of their actions

Indicates that their behavior does not affect the outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "without their having" in a sentence?

Use "without their having" to show that something happens or is true, and a specific group of people does not do the action. Example: "The project was completed successfully "without their having" to contribute any additional resources."

What can I say instead of "without their having"?

You can use alternatives like "without them needing to", "without requiring them to", or "without their knowledge" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "without them having" instead of "without their having"?

While "without them having" might be understood, ""without their having"" is generally considered more grammatically formal and correct, especially in writing. The possessive pronoun "their" functions more effectively in this construction.

What is the difference between "without their knowledge" and "without their having"?

"Without their knowledge" means someone is unaware of something. "Without their having" means something occurred, and a specific group of people did not do the action. For example: "The decision was made without their knowledge" (they didn't know about it) vs. "The decision was implemented without their having approved it" (they didn't approve it).