a private undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a private undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a project or task that is conducted privately, often without public involvement or oversight. Example: "The organization decided to pursue a private undertaking to develop new technologies without external pressure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the suit filed in State Supreme Court says the rosy terminology violates the State Constitution's provision against use of public money in the aid of a "private undertaking".

The New York Times

Running the domestic side of the executive mansion was a private undertaking then, and the third and fourth president each assembled a household staff, headed by a French steward, of about ten: white and free black workers, slaves hired in the capital, as well as slaves from their plantation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And the notoriously garrulous Clinton has kept to the official script that this was a "solely private" undertaking that focused on the journalists and nothing more, though it strains credulity to imagine the former president restricting his long chat with North Korea's leader to media ethics.

Huffington Post

Pretending to be a well-run private undertaking can also impact on redundancies and cause social upsets.

EU Parlament

Law enforcement or parties in lawsuits have different rules and expectations compared to businesses doing background checks on job applicants or a private citizen undertaking a personal investigation.

Introduction to Social Media Investigation A Hands-On Approach

WHITE PLAINS — A former Yonkers city councilwoman was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of accepting nearly $167,000 in cash and gifts in exchange for dropping her opposition to two contentious developments, including a $630 million project that is the city's largest private undertaking.

The New York Times

After all, what is the definition of the average well-run private undertaking?

EU Parlament

Since that time, all hospitals (∼300), both public and private, undertaking arthroplasty procedures submit data to the registry.

BMJ Open

Does making reference to the average private undertaking not oversimplify the task assigned to the public service?

EU Parlament

Should you wish to grapple with its form, you might suggest that Nemes twines together too many narrative strands; there is a subplot about an uprising planned among the Sonderkommando, plus a private mission undertaken by Saul, concerning a boy whom he recognizes, in the gas chambers, as his son.

The New Yorker

The project, which envisions two additional floating turbines next year with 7,000-kilowatt 7,000-kilowatt is a joint publicapacityeachdertakisg by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the University of Tokyo and 10 majointndustrial enterprises.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a private undertaking" when you want to emphasize that an activity is being conducted without public knowledge or funding. It's useful in contexts where discretion or autonomy is important.

Common error

Avoid using "a private undertaking" when referring to projects with significant public involvement or oversight. It can create a misleading impression of secrecy or lack of accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a private undertaking" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As noted by Ludwig, it denotes an activity or project carried out independently.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a private undertaking" is a noun phrase used to describe a project or activity conducted independently, without public involvement. Ludwig highlights its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While its frequency is relatively low, the phrase appears in reputable sources such as The New York Times and Huffington Post. When choosing alternatives, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, whether it's the personal nature ("a personal project") or the confidential aspect ("a confidential endeavor") of the activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a personal project

Focuses on the individual nature of the project.

a confidential endeavor

Emphasizes the secrecy and discretion involved.

an independent initiative

Stresses the autonomy and self-direction of the activity.

a private enterprise

Implies a business activity undertaken privately.

a discrete initiative

Highlights that the action should not be noticed by others, acting with secrecy

a private matter

Highlights the personal and non-public nature of the situation.

a clandestine operation

Suggests a hidden or secretive activity, often with a negative connotation.

a privately sponsored activity

Focuses on how the action is funded by private backers and not public

a self-funded venture

Highlights the financial independence of the activity.

a solo mission

Indicates that the activity is carried out by one person alone.

FAQs

What does "a private undertaking" mean?

The phrase "a private undertaking" refers to a project, task, or activity conducted independently and without public involvement or funding. It suggests a level of autonomy and discretion.

How can I use "a private undertaking" in a sentence?

You can use "a private undertaking" to describe something being done in secret, such as "The company launched "a private undertaking" to develop new software."

What are some alternatives to "a private undertaking"?

You can use alternatives like "a personal project", "a confidential endeavor", or "a private enterprise" depending on the specific context.

Is "a private undertaking" the same as "a secret mission"?

While both imply a degree of privacy, "a private undertaking" is broader and doesn't necessarily imply secrecy or covert operations, unlike a "secret mission". "A private undertaking" simply highlights that an enterprise is not government-funded or publicly known.