ask for capital

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ask for capital" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is requesting financial resources or investment for a business or project. Example: "In order to expand our operations, we need to ask for capital from potential investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Barack Obama unveiled proposals on October 21st to increase the size of government-guaranteed loans to small businesses, and to make it more attractive for small lenders to ask for capital from the Troubled Assets Relief Programme.

The Economist

The real worry is that local regulators will allow banks to hide losses rather than force them to set aside provisions and perhaps ask for capital from their governments.

The Economist

Attorney General John Ashcroft has ordered United States attorneys in New York and Connecticut to seek the death penalty for a dozen defendants in cases in which prosecutors had recommended against or did not ask for capital punishment, according to lawyers who follow the issue.

The New York Times

Instead of approaching one investor to ask for capital, crowdfunding is an online platform that allows small initiatives like Cape Consort to post proposals on a dedicated website and ask the world wide crowd for funding.

BBC

Wilson said that women are often not confident to go out and ask for capital and instead end up bootstrapping their companies with the support of family and friends.

Duke University

There are numerous donation crowdfunding platforms where entrepreneurs can safely ask for capital such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, RocketHub, and investment platforms like 1000 Angels, the company I co-founded, to name a few.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

There have been nine other cases in which she could have asked for capital punishment but chose not to.

The New York Times

I personally know a few entrepreneurs who got funded by the first few investors they asked for capital, but that's the exception not the rule.

Forbes

Not only do mergers often result in hundreds, if not thousands of employees being laid off, asking for capital to be lowered this late in the cycle is dangerous to tax payers.

Forbes

That would be the largest loss in Irish corporate history and could lead it back to the government to ask for more capital.

The New York Times

Seeing trouble coming, the FSA is proposing a new law that would allow regional banks to ask for a capital injection even if their accounts show that they are solvent.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing business proposals, always clearly define how the requested capital will be used and what return on investment can be expected. Tailor your "ask" to the specific interests and priorities of potential investors.

Common error

Avoid misspelling "capital" as "capitol", which refers to a government building. "Capital" refers to financial assets, whereas "capitol" is a physical place. Therefore, you would "ask for capital", not "ask for capitol".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ask for capital" functions as a verb phrase, specifically an action phrase, where "ask" is the verb, "for" is a preposition, and "capital" is the noun object. It describes the act of requesting financial resources. Ludwig AI confirms this is a standard and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

14%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ask for capital" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible way to express a request for financial resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is appropriate in several contexts, with primary usage being in "News & Media" and "Academia". When using this phrase, ensure clarity in your communication, specifying the purpose and intended use of the capital. Avoid confusing "capital" with "capitol". When communicating, consider alternative phrases like "request funding" or "seek investment" for formal settings and always tailor your requests to the potential investor's preferences for a maximized rate of investment and ROI.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request funding

This alternative focuses on the act of formally requesting financial resources.

seek investment

This alternative highlights the search for opportunities to gain financial backing.

seek financial backing

This option specifies the goal of finding support in the form of financial capital.

solicit funds

This alternative implies a more proactive and persuasive approach to gaining financial support.

appeal for funds

This alternative suggests a more urgent or emotional request for financial assistance.

apply for financing

This version underscores a structured application process for funds.

pursue financing

This alternative suggests a determined effort to obtain the necessary financial resources.

raise capital

This option emphasizes the action of accumulating capital.

look for investors

This alternative focuses on the search for individuals or groups willing to provide capital.

tap investors

This option implies leveraging existing relationships with investors for capital.

FAQs

How can I use "ask for capital" in a sentence?

You can use "ask for capital" to describe the act of requesting financial resources for a business or project. For example, "The entrepreneur decided to "ask for capital" from venture capitalists to expand the startup's operations".

What is a more formal way to say "ask for capital"?

A more formal alternative to "ask for capital" would be "request funding" or "seek investment", which sound more professional in business or academic settings.

What's the difference between "ask for capital" and "raise capital"?

"Ask for capital" implies a direct request for financial resources, while "raise capital" refers to the overall process of accumulating funds through various means, such as investment rounds, loans, or revenue generation.

Is it better to "ask for capital" or "seek funding"?

Both ""ask for capital"" and "seek funding" are acceptable, but "seek funding" may be preferred in formal contexts as it sounds slightly more professional. The best choice depends on the audience and the specific situation.