can capitalise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can capitalise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the ability to take advantage of a situation or opportunity, often in a financial or business context. Example: "The company can capitalise on the growing demand for eco-friendly products to increase its market share."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some cities can capitalise on expanding numbers.

The Guardian

You encourage your opponent to make mistakes so you can capitalise on it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So people can capitalise upon reggae as much as they want.

The Guardian - Music

What new opportunities and technologies exist that we can capitalise on?

The Guardian

"We need to start winning and winning fast, and that's an area we can capitalise on".

The Guardian - Sport

They also hope he can capitalise on the anti-establishment mood.

The Guardian

Min 62: Lampard's shot is spilled by the keeper, who grabs it before Rooney can capitalise.

The Guardian - Sport

It can capitalise on the anti-establishment vote and also the liberal left vote.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Leeds can capitalise on its strength in administration and commerce.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you have just a 1% advantage, you can capitalise on that.

The Guardian

We will now look at their qualities and weaknesses and hopefully we can capitalise on their weaknesses".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can capitalise", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being capitalised on and the intended outcome. For instance, "The company can capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable products to increase its market share."

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overusing "can capitalise" in highly formal academic or scientific writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced alternatives like "leverage" or "exploit" to convey specific meanings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can capitalise" functions as a verb phrase indicating the ability or potential to take advantage of a situation or resource. It expresses the capacity to derive benefit or value from something, as seen in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can capitalise" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that signifies the ability to take advantage of a situation or resource. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and appears frequently in diverse contexts, especially news and media. While generally neutral in register, its use may be refined based on context; for instance, more formal academic or scientific writing may require greater precision. To enhance clarity, it's helpful to specify what is being capitalized on and the expected outcome. Alternatives such as "can take advantage of" or "can leverage" offer stylistic variations while maintaining semantic proximity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can take advantage of

Replaces "capitalise" with a more general term for benefiting from a situation.

can benefit from

Highlights the ability to receive advantages or positive outcomes.

can leverage

Implies using something to gain an advantage, often in a business context.

can make the most of

Emphasizes maximizing the benefits from an opportunity.

can harness

Implies controlling and utilizing something for a specific purpose.

can exploit

Suggests using something to its fullest potential, sometimes with a negative connotation.

can make use of

Focuses on the ability to utilize something effectively.

can profit from

Focuses on gaining financial benefit from a situation.

can build on

Suggests using something as a foundation for further development or success.

can cash in on

An informal expression indicating the ability to gain money from something.

FAQs

How can I use "can capitalise" in a sentence?

You can use "can capitalise" to indicate the ability to take advantage of an opportunity or asset. For example, "The business "can capitalise" on its innovative technology to gain a competitive edge."

What can I say instead of "can capitalise"?

You can use alternatives like "can take advantage of", "can leverage", or "can profit from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "can capitalise on"?

Yes, "can capitalise on" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase. It means to take advantage of something in order to gain benefit.

What is the difference between "can capitalise on" and "can exploit"?

While both phrases suggest taking advantage of something, "can capitalise on" usually implies a more positive and ethical approach, while "can exploit" can suggest using something unfairly or selfishly.