a certain profitability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain profitability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential or expected profitability of a business venture or investment. Example: "The new marketing strategy is expected to yield a certain profitability that will enhance our overall financial performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The legislative model assigns the minimum collection rate responsibility to the company, but also entitles it to a certain profitability ratio guaranteed by the government.

International Journal of Production Economics

The idea is that there's a certain profitability in the e-comm channel, and to the extent that we could save money relative to that, we'd share that with customers — that's how we're thinking about it," he notes.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

KIT digital also agreed to pay the shareholders of Brickbox consideration equal to 10% of forward revenues from Brickbox over a four-year period, subject to a $20 million annual revenue threshold for each year and certain profitability thresholds.

TechCrunch

LONDON – Barclays said Thursday that its executives would give up parts of their bonuses if the British bank fails to meet certain profitability goals.

The New York Times

To avoid a bigger confrontation with institutional investors, Mr. Diamond agreed last week to forgo part of his £2.7 million deferred-share bonus should the bank miss certain profitability targets.

The New York Times

The critique of the Goldman director also coincided with an unusual announcement by Barclays, the big British bank, which said on Thursday that its executives would forfeit portions of their bonuses if the firm failed to meet certain profitability goals.

The New York Times

The financial risk to companies and shareholders is limited because profit shares are only generated if a certain level of profitability is achieved.

Independent

The most straightforward way to do this is through profit-sharing, by distributing a small share of company profits to employees, once a company achieves a certain level of profitability.

Independent

The economics of selling to the entire globe, with US domestic no longer a certain guarantee of profitability for such large budget, made it a necessity.

The Guardian - Film

An agreement in 2005 with a previous Belize government guaranteed Telemedia a certain level of profitability, and the ability to claw back tax if it didn't reach it.

Independent

Once the marketing of cigarettes falls below a certain threshold of profitability, a great deal of the promotional force that has been behind the selling of this product is likely to be dissipated.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business strategies or financial forecasts, use "a certain profitability" to indicate a specific, though perhaps not precisely defined, level of profit that is expected or required. This adds a layer of realism compared to simply mentioning profitability.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain profitability" when you have precise figures available. "Certain" implies a degree of ambiguity, so if you know the exact profitability, it's better to use terms like "specific profitability" or state the exact figures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain profitability" functions as a noun phrase, where 'certain' modifies 'profitability'. It indicates a specific, though perhaps not precisely quantified, level of profit that is expected or required. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain profitability" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a specific but not necessarily precisely defined level of profit. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's commonly found in business, news, and scientific contexts, reflecting its professional and neutral register. While it's not a highly frequent phrase, understanding its usage can help in crafting clear and accurate statements about financial expectations or requirements. Remember to avoid using it when precise figures are available; in those cases, more specific language is preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific profitability

Replaces "certain" with "specific", indicating a more precisely defined level of profitability.

a particular profitability

Substitutes "certain" with "particular", suggesting a distinct or notable level of profitability.

a definite profitability

Replaces "certain" with "definite", emphasizing a clear and unquestionable level of profitability.

a predictable profitability

Changes "certain" to "predictable", focusing on the ability to forecast the level of profitability.

a guaranteed profitability

Substitutes "certain" with "guaranteed", indicating an assured level of profitability.

a minimum profitability

Specifies a lower limit on the acceptable level of profitability.

a target profitability

Indicates a profitability level that is aimed for or desired.

a sustainable profitability

Focuses on maintaining profitability over a long period.

an acceptable profitability

Highlights that profitability is sufficient or meets requirements.

a reasonable profitability

Indicates that the profitability achieved is fair and justifiable.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain profitability" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain profitability" to describe a situation where a business is expected to achieve a particular level of profit, or where achieving a specific profit margin is essential for success. For example, "The project needs to reach "a certain profitability" to justify the initial investment."

What's a good alternative to "a certain profitability"?

Depending on the context, suitable alternatives to "a certain profitability" could be phrases like "a specific profitability", "a target profitability", or "a desired profit margin".

Is it more appropriate to say "a certain level of profitability" or "a certain profitability"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "a certain level of profitability" provides more context by explicitly referring to a 'level'. "A certain profitability" is more concise and works well when the context already implies a level or degree.

Can "a certain profitability" be used when the exact profit is unknown?

Yes, "a certain profitability" is often used when the exact profit is not yet known but is expected or aimed for. It implies that there's an anticipated level of profit that the business or project hopes to achieve, but the figure is not precisely defined.