"When all of them are out of town" vs "When they are out of town"

Question

"When all of them are out of town" vs "When they are out of town"

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'When all of them are out of town' implies that a specific group of people are away, while 'when they are out of town' is more general and could refer to any group of people. The choice between them depends on the context and the level of specificity needed.

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize that every single person in a particular group is not in town.

Examples:

We can have the party when all of them are out of town.
The office is quiet when all of them are out of town.

Alternatives:

when they are out of town
when everyone is out of town
when the group is out of town
when the whole group is out of town
when the entire group is out of town

This phrase is used when talking about a group of people in a general sense, without specifying every single individual.

Examples:

We can schedule the meeting when they are out of town.
It's quieter in the neighborhood when they are out of town.

Alternatives:

when all of them are out of town
when everyone is out of town
when the group is out of town
when the whole group is out of town
when the entire group is out of town

Answer 1

When all of them are out of town

This phrase is correct and can be used when referring to a specific group of people who are away.

Answer 2

When they are out of town

This phrase is correct and is more general, referring to any group of people being away.

"When all of them are out of town" vs "When they are out of town"

When all of them are out of town

When they are out of town

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