a core business

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a core business" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the primary or most important area of activity or focus for a company or organization. Example: "Our company has decided to streamline operations and concentrate on a core business that drives the most revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It's a core business for us.

The New York Times

"Benefits administration isn't a core business," he said.

The New York Times

Define a core business and be brave enough to raise the equity to fund it.

The Economist

Increasingly, companies have bowed to market sentiment, defined a "core" business and sold the rest.

The Economist

"Fendi is a very expensive Italian brand, with a core business in leather and fur".

The New York Times

Either way, Broad - like Pietersen - has a core business to address in India over the next two months.

Independent

Polaroid's big-selling cameras for teens, for example, may yet turn out to be a fad, not a core business.

The New York Times

Oracle has a core business in selling relational databases to big companies that few expect to dislodge in anybody's working life.

The New York Times

"It is a core business strategy," explains Janet Voûte, Nestlé's global head of public affairs, who used to work at the WHO.

The Economist

"I had to say, 'Is this a core business for us anymore?' " said Bradley J. Siegel, Turner's president of general entertainment networks.

The New York Times

Conservatoires, from which hundreds of highly trained musicians graduate each year across the UK, have a core business of training students primarily as performers or composers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a core business" to emphasize the stability and long-term importance of a particular activity within an organization's overall operations.

Common error

Avoid mislabeling experimental or short-term ventures as "a core business". Only activities fundamental to the company's long-term strategy should be considered core.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a core business" functions as a noun phrase identifying the primary and most essential operational activity of a company or organization. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples showing it used to define a company's main area of focus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a core business" is a noun phrase widely used to define the primary and most important operational activity of a company. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in contexts such as news, business, and science. It is considered to have a professional register, indicating its suitability for formal communications. Related phrases include "primary business", "main line of business", and "key business activity", offering alternative ways to convey the same meaning. To ensure clear communication, define what constitutes "a core business" to avoid ambiguity and mislabeling non-essential ventures as core.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary business

Replaces 'core' with 'primary', emphasizing the main aspect of the business.

main line of business

Substitutes 'core' with 'main line', highlighting the principal activity.

key business activity

Focuses on the 'key' activities, rather than the core structure.

fundamental business

Uses 'fundamental' to convey the essential nature of the business.

essential business function

Highlights the function as being 'essential' rather than just core.

central operation

Shifts focus from 'business' to 'operation', denoting a process.

principal revenue stream

Concentrates on the income aspect of the core activity.

flagship product

Refers to the most important product instead of the whole business.

strategic focus

Emphasizes the strategic importance of the business area.

critical business area

Replaces 'core' with 'critical', indicating high importance.

FAQs

How can I use "a core business" in a sentence?

You can use "a core business" to describe the most important or fundamental activity of a company. For example, "Manufacturing is "a core business" for many industrial companies".

What are some alternatives to saying "a core business"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "primary business", "main line of business", or "key business activity".

Is it correct to refer to multiple core businesses within one company?

Yes, it is possible for a company to have multiple core businesses, especially if it operates in diverse sectors. However, it's more common to identify one as the primary "focus area".

What's the difference between "a core business" and "a strategic initiative"?

"A core business" refers to the fundamental activity generating most of a company's revenue, while "a strategic initiative" is a specific project or action undertaken to improve the company's performance, which may or may not be directly related to "primary activity".