businesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "businesses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to multiple companies or enterprises engaged in commercial activities. Example: "Many businesses are adapting to the new market trends to stay competitive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They knew we wanted to stop consumers being ripped off, but weren't convinced we also wanted businesses to grow and flourish.

The Guardian

"Our energy market reforms are about making the market more competitive, but also recognising that not just consumers but also businesses have been paying too much for their bills, and we're introducing a temporary price freeze to help consumers.

The Guardian - Money

Your job is to think about how those communities can start creating new clusters so that they can attract new businesses.

The New York Times

The uncertainty that's keeping businesses from spending or hiring isn't uncertainty about what Barack Obama is doing or saying.

The Economist

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents – young and old, rich and poor – have peacefully occupied major thoroughfares across the city, shuttering businesses and bringing traffic to a halt.

The Guardian

The governor's work leading New Jersey through the recovery from the storm, which damaged more than 360,000 homes and businesses, helped cement his national reputation as a no-nonsense, hard-driving governor willing to work closely with Democrats to get things done.

The Guardian

Walker notes several new businesses opening up in town, and believes the worst has passed.

The Guardian

Last year the NT government struck a deal with Rio Tinto to make 250 empty houses available to support new and existing businesses as part of a new, co-funded economic development entity, but not for public housing.

The Guardian

In the following year the town's population of about 4,000 dropped by nearly half, and as businesses and supermarkets closed, Qantas cut its services, and houses were left empty, the exodus began to take a toll on the mental health of those who stayed behind.

The Guardian

We are also backed by the British Business Bank, they have a fund called the Aspire fund, for women-led businesses.

The Guardian

It partners with Kenyan businesses, with employees then able to use M-Pepea to get immediate loans of up to 20% of their monthly salary.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about the economy, specify the size of the "businesses" you're discussing (e.g., small businesses, large corporations) for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "businesses" as a blanket term without specifying industry or scale, which can dilute the impact of your message. Provide specific examples or context.

Linguistic Context

The term "businesses" functions primarily as a plural noun, referring to multiple entities engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities. Ludwig AI indicates that it is widely accepted and used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "businesses" is a common and grammatically correct plural noun used to refer to multiple commercial enterprises. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread acceptability in English. Analysis of its usage across diverse sources reveals that it commonly appears in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When writing about "businesses", it's advisable to be specific about their size and industry for better clarity. Some alternatives include "companies", "firms", and "enterprises", each with slightly different connotations. To avoid overgeneralization, always strive to provide context and specific examples to enhance your message's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

companies

Refers more generally to incorporated entities, often larger in scale.

enterprises

A more formal term for ventures, often implying ambition or innovation.

firms

Often used in a professional or business context to denote organizations.

organizations

Broader term encompassing various structured groups, not necessarily commercial.

establishments

Refers to the physical premises or locations of commercial operations.

ventures

Implies a new or risky business undertaking.

corporations

Specifically denotes legally incorporated entities with shareholders.

outfits

An informal term for organizations, often used in specific industries.

agencies

Typically refers to businesses providing specific services.

operations

Focuses on the activities and processes of a commercial entity.

FAQs

How can I use "businesses" in a sentence?

You can use "businesses" to refer to multiple commercial enterprises, as in: "Many "businesses" are adapting to new technologies."

What are some alternatives to the word "businesses"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "companies", "firms", or "enterprises".

Is it correct to use "businesses" as a general term?

Yes, "businesses" is generally correct for referring to multiple commercial entities. However, be specific (e.g., "small businesses" or "tech businesses") for clarity.

What's the difference between "businesses" and "companies"?

"Businesses" is a broader term, while "companies" typically refers to incorporated entities. You can use "businesses" to encompass various types of commercial activities.