Both “their life” and “their lives” are grammatically correct. The right choice depends on the meaning you want to convey.
Use “their life” when multiple people share one collective experience or existence. Use “their lives” when referring to each person’s separate experience. The distinction is about shared versus individual perspective.
Get this one distinction right, and you will always know which form fits your sentence.
What Is the Core Difference?
“Their life” treats a group as sharing a single, collective experience. “Their lives” focuses on the individual paths each person walks on their own.
Think of it as the difference between one shared story and many personal ones.
Their Life or Their Lives Reference Table
When to Use “Their Life”
Use “their life” when a group is living, sharing, or experiencing something as one unit.
The singular noun life signals that the experience belongs to all of them together — not separately.
Examples of “Their Life” Used Correctly
- ✅ “The couple dedicated their life to raising a family.”
- ✅ “They rebuilt their life after the storm destroyed everything.”
- ✅ “The family shaped their life around their faith and values.”
In each sentence, the group is treated as a unified whole. One shared circumstance. One shared direction.
When to Use “Their Lives”
Use “their lives” when each person in a group has their own distinct path, story, or experience.
The plural noun lives makes it clear that every individual carries their own separate existence.
Examples of “Their Lives” Used Correctly
- ✅ “The firefighters risked their lives to save the neighborhood.”
- ✅ “The graduates went on to change their lives for the better.”
- ✅ “The survivors rebuilt their lives in different cities.”
Here, every person in the group acts independently — each one at risk, each one changing, each one rebuilding on their own terms.
Their Life vs Their Lives — Key Sentence Tests
Not sure which one fits? Two quick tests help every time.
Test 1 — Add the Word “Each”
Try inserting “each” into the sentence. If it sounds natural, use “their lives.” If it sounds awkward, stick with “their life.”
- “They each built their lives differently.” ✅ — “each” works → use lives
- “They each shared their life together.” ❌ — “each” clashes → use life
Test 2 — Ask: One Story or Many?
If the group shares one story — one home, one journey, one purpose — use “their life.” If every person has their own story — separate risks, separate paths, separate futures — use “their lives.”
Both Can Appear in the Same Passage
Good writers use both forms intentionally. The same group can share one life together in one sentence and pursue individual lives in the next — without contradiction.
- “The siblings shared their life growing up on the farm. As adults, they each pursued their lives in different corners of the country.”
The first sentence shows unity. The second shows individuality. Both are correct — and together, they paint a fuller picture.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Their Life in Formal and Professional Writing
In journalism, academic writing, and professional content, this distinction matters more than in casual speech.
Choosing the wrong form can change meaning in subtle but important ways.
- Journalism: “The miners risked their lives every day underground.” — each miner faces personal danger
- Literature: “They built their life on honesty and trust.” — a couple’s shared foundation
- Academic writing: “Participants reorganized their lives around new routines.” — individual behavioral changes
In spoken English, the distinction is softer. In formal written English, precision signals credibility and expertise.
FAQs — Their Life or Their Lives
What is the difference between “their life” and “their lives”?
“Their life” refers to a shared or collective experience. “Their lives” refers to separate, individual experiences within a group. Context determines which is correct.
Is it “they risked their life” or “they risked their lives”?
“They risked their lives” is correct. Each person in the group faces individual risk — making the plural form the natural and accurate choice.
Can “their life” refer to multiple people?
Yes. When multiple people share one unified experience — like a couple or a family living together — “their life” correctly describes that collective existence.
How do I know which form to use in formal writing?
Ask whether the experience is shared (use their life) or individual (use their lives). In formal writing, this distinction directly affects clarity and meaning.
Is “their lives” always plural?
Yes. “Lives” is always the plural form of life. Use it whenever each person in a group lives their own separate existence, makes their own choices, or faces their own circumstances.
Conclusion
“Their life” and “their lives” are both correct — but they mean different things. Use “their life” for a shared, collective experience and “their lives” when each person has their own individual path.
The next time you are unsure, ask one simple question: one shared story or many separate ones? That answer tells you exactly which word to use.
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