Onus or onus ( one word, pronounced to rhyme with "own us" ) means burden or responsibility--
The onus of providing evidence of guilt is on the prosecuting attorney.
You made this mess; the onus of cleaning it up is on you.
On us or on us ( two words ) means set or resting on, or attached or stuck to two persons, one of whom is the speaker--
He spilled soda on us; we'll have to go and change our clothes.
He's sure that a witch put a curse on us, but I don't believe in magic.
Own us or own us ( rhymes with onus ) means to have property rights in two or more persons, one of whom is the speaker, or to possess two or more persons, one of them the speaker--
You don't own us! Don't be so controlling!
He will own us if he finds out what we did.
Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our parents don't own us, but the onus is on us to show that we can behave responsibly."
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