acquisition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquisition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to obtaining or gaining possession of something, often in business or academic settings. Example: "The company's recent acquisition of a smaller firm has significantly expanded its market reach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This acquisition allows us to secure a large, global platform on which to distribute our increasingly successful original programming through a collection of strong, well-established and well-managed assets worldwide".

The New York Times

He's done crucial research on language acquisition, and he offers an admirable account of syntax in his book, but it is unclear what he's talking about here.

The Economist

It said Multimap would complement Virtual Earth, Live Search, Windows Live services, MSN and its new $6.5bn £3.2bnn) acquisition aQuantive, the online marketing group.

The Guardian

Multimap will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, which did not disclose the price of the acquisition.

The Guardian

This is the second acquisition in Google's recent 15-company shopping spree that is related to VOIP.

The Guardian

"He presented an opinion that [the bank] would be better off targeting an alliance with a player such as Rabobank if it was serious such about pursuing such a major acquisition," Kelly wrote.

The Guardian - Business

Bank of America, which has already shelled out $40bn in clean-up costs for its acquisition of Countrywide, made a paltry $4.2bn in net income last year: one-fifth of the income of JP Morgan.

The Guardian - Opinion

"An acquisition of [a company like] All3Media would solve problems for ITV Studios giving them increased turnover, profits and it will diversify ITV's revenue base and critically could drive formats that will sell overseas," said another industry source.

The Guardian

The consequence of the 11 defeats Celtic have sustained in his care so far this season was to be found in the irrational behaviour that accompanied the acquisition of a Tottenham reserve on loan until the end of the season.

The Guardian - Sport

It was one of the first descriptions of what became known as the "age-sex" difference in HIV acquisition in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Guardian

I believe this is a prevalent view amongst Rangers stakeholders who are now demanding full transparency about the funding of the acquisition of the club, its current financial status and, most importantly, the way forward.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business deals, use "acquisition" to denote one company taking over another. For instance, "The company announced its acquisition of a smaller competitor."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "acquisition" with "inquisition". "Acquisition" refers to gaining possession, while "inquisition" refers to a period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.

Linguistic Context

The word "acquisition" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the act or process of acquiring something. This includes tangible items, skills, or even companies, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples in news and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Sport

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquisition" is a versatile noun commonly used to describe the act of gaining possession, whether in business, learning, or other contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and business domains. While alternatives like "procurement" and "attainment" exist, "acquisition" often provides the most direct and comprehensive description of the process. When writing, be mindful of potential confusion with similar-sounding words like "inquisition" and use "acquisition" to clearly convey the concept of obtaining something of value.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Procurement

Focuses on the process of obtaining goods or services, often in a business context.

Attainment

Emphasizes the achievement of a goal or the gaining of a skill.

Gaining possession

A more descriptive phrase that highlights the act of obtaining ownership.

Obtaining

A general term for getting or acquiring something.

Securing

Implies making something safe and ensuring its availability or ownership.

Takeover

Often used in a business context to describe acquiring control of a company.

Purchase

Specifically refers to buying something.

Accession

Formal term indicating an agreement to an international treaty or convention.

Achievement

Highlights the successful completion of something, often a goal or objective.

Winning

Implies obtaining something through competition or chance.

FAQs

How can I use "acquisition" in a sentence?

You can use "acquisition" to describe the act of gaining possession of something, such as "The company's latest "acquisition" significantly increased its market share" or "Language "acquisition" is a complex process".

What are some alternatives to "acquisition"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "procurement", "attainment", or "takeover".

Is it correct to use "acquisition" to describe learning a new skill?

Yes, "acquisition" can be used to describe learning a new skill or knowledge, as in "the "acquisition of knowledge"" or "language "acquisition"".

What is the difference between "acquisition" and "merger" in business?

"Acquisition" refers to one company taking over another, while "merger" involves two companies combining to form a new entity. In an "acquisition", one company remains dominant, whereas a "merger" ideally creates a partnership of equals.