capitalise

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'capitalise' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to use capital letters or to take advantage of a situation for financial gain. Example 1: Please remember to capitalise the first letter of each sentence. Example 2: The company was able to capitalise on the new market demand for their product. Example 3: I'm going to capitalise on my skills and start my own business.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Together, they have positioned the Guardian to build on its worldwide audience and to capitalise on its new commercial and digital opportunities".

The Guardian

However, the communes' residents draw parallels with what is happening in other parts of London, such as Hackney, Brixton and Newham, where people have been threatened with eviction as social landlords seek to capitalise on rising property prices, their actions threatening to undermine established, diverse neighbourhoods.

The Guardian

Traders willing to maintain trading routes, or with sufficient stock, often hiked prices to capitalise on the increase in demand as people panic-bought.

The Guardian

Wise acknowledges that Northumberland needs to do more to capitalise on its scarce resource and believes the region needs a couple more observatories to ensure that visitors will see what they came for.

The Guardian

Related: When directors shoot movies back-to-back, who wins? Trend: rollerblading While rollerblades had been around for some time, the early 90s saw a boom in popularity and one film was keen to capitalise.

The Guardian - Film

In 1973, a local eccentric was thinking of a way to capitalise on the summer tourist traffic heading to the Top of the World Highway.

The Guardian - Travel

Will Democrats be able to capitalise on the party's civil war and portray it as far too rightwing for the national mood – or will they too become seen as the same Washington establishment that the voters of Virginia's 7th district so dramatically rejected on Tuesday night?

The Guardian

One in four charities are in the process of introducing online donating facilities to capitalise on younger potential donors who are more frequent users of mobile technology.

The Guardian

These brainwaves are associated with relaxation, but also suggestibility – something advertisers look to capitalise on by making your receptive brain associate their brands with positive emotions.

The Guardian

Sinn Féin, meanwhile, has been trying to capitalise on Fianna Fáil's unpopularity and looks set to take seats from the larger party in some constituencies.

The Guardian

But to suggest that she could simply be the candidate to capitalise on David Cameron's "women problem" would be to do her record a disservice.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "capitalise", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being leveraged for gain. Be specific about the resource or opportunity being used.

Common error

Avoid using "capitalise" excessively in formal writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "leverage", "profit from", or "take advantage of" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "capitalise" is as a verb, indicating an action of taking advantage of something. Ludwig AI confirms its common use, exemplified in sentences where entities aim to "capitalise" on opportunities or resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capitalise" is a verb that means to take advantage of an opportunity or resource. According to Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically correct and commonly used term, particularly in news and business contexts. The word is used to convey the intent to gain an advantage, and it has a neutral register. Remember to consider the context and audience when using "capitalise", and be mindful of potential overuse. By understanding its nuances, you can effectively incorporate "capitalise" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take advantage of

Focuses on benefiting from a situation, similar to "capitalise" but more general.

profit from

Emphasizes the financial gain aspect of using an opportunity.

leverage

Implies using something to its maximum potential for a strategic advantage.

make the most of

Highlights maximizing the benefits from available resources or opportunities.

exploit

Can have a negative connotation, implying unfair use, but shares the sense of maximizing something.

cash in on

Specifically refers to converting something into financial gain.

build on

Focuses on using an existing foundation to further develop or improve something.

draw on

Suggests using something as a resource or source of support.

harness

Implies controlling and utilizing a resource for a specific purpose.

optimize

Focuses on improving the efficiency or effectiveness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "capitalise" in a sentence?

You can use "capitalise" to mean to take advantage of an opportunity or resource. For example, "The company aimed to capitalise on the growing demand for electric vehicles."

What's a good alternative to "capitalise" that doesn't imply financial gain?

If you want to avoid the financial connotation, consider using "leverage" or "make the most of", which focus more on maximizing the use of something.

Is it always appropriate to use "capitalise" in a professional context?

While "capitalise" is generally acceptable, be mindful of the context. In some situations, a more nuanced term like "optimize" or "benefit from" may be more suitable.

What is the difference between "capitalize" and "capitalise"?

"Capitalize" is the standard spelling in American English, while "capitalise" is the preferred spelling in British English. Both words carry the same meaning.