certain businesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain businesses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific types of businesses without naming them directly, often in discussions about regulations, trends, or market conditions. Example: "Certain businesses have adapted quickly to the changes in consumer behavior during the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Certain businesses are taking similar precautions.

The New York Times

But certain businesses call for discreet packaging.

The New York Times

Normally, even if they are failing, they can unwind certain businesses over months or years.

The Economist

The big Wall Street firms may then decide to exit certain businesses and downsize.

The New York Times

"Certain businesses could go away for us, but baseball cards will always be essential," he said.

The New York Times

Certain businesses, like the creation of fake friends and fake children, have thrived.

The New York Times - Books

AaiPharma, which makes enhanced versions of medicines, said that it might sell certain businesses and assets.

The New York Times

This is because the tax laws are designed to attract certain businesses to the UK.

The Guardian - Money

He wasn't intimidated by threats from certain businesses to, say, punish Suffolk by moving elsewhere.

The New York Times

It's the shifting of stocks, bonds or funds from certain businesses or sectors.

The Guardian

It now has to put up more capital against its operations, forcing the bank to leave certain businesses, reducing profitability.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain businesses", ensure the context makes it clear why you're not naming them directly. It could be for confidentiality, brevity, or because the specific names are not relevant to the main point.

Common error

Avoid using "certain businesses" too frequently in the same piece of writing without providing specific examples or reasons for not naming them. This can make your writing vague and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain businesses" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase to refer to specific yet unnamed types of businesses. It allows for generalization and avoids explicitly naming companies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "certain businesses" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, primarily in news, business, and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, highlighting its utility in discussing trends or regulations affecting specific groups of companies without direct identification. Alternative phrases, such as "specific enterprises" or "particular firms", can be used depending on the desired level of specificity. When using "certain businesses", ensure the context provides clarity on the reasons for not naming the businesses directly, and avoid overuse to maintain writing impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specific enterprises

Replaces 'certain' with 'specific', emphasizing a more definite selection of businesses.

particular companies

Substitutes 'businesses' with 'companies', focusing on individual entities.

selected firms

Uses 'firms' instead of 'businesses', which is slightly more formal and often implies a professional context.

some corporations

Replaces 'businesses' with 'corporations', indicating larger, more structured organizations.

certain sectors

Focuses on industry segments rather than individual businesses, broadening the scope.

specific industries

Similar to 'certain sectors', but emphasizes the industrial aspect of the business.

designated enterprises

Implies that the businesses have been officially chosen or identified for a specific purpose.

specified companies

Indicates a more explicit naming or listing of businesses, though not fully detailed.

identified businesses

Suggests that the businesses have been recognized or singled out, usually for a specific reason.

particular areas of commerce

Replaces 'businesses' with a more descriptive phrase, highlighting the commercial aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "certain businesses" in a sentence?

You can use "certain businesses" to refer to a group of companies without specifying their names, like in the sentence: "The new regulations will affect "certain businesses" more than others."

What is a good alternative to "certain businesses"?

Alternatives to "certain businesses" include "specific companies", "particular firms", or "selected industries", depending on the level of detail you want to provide.

When is it appropriate to use "certain businesses" instead of naming specific companies?

It's appropriate to use "certain businesses" when the exact names of the companies are not essential to your point, when you want to maintain confidentiality, or when you are discussing a trend or regulation that affects a group of businesses.

What is the difference between "certain businesses" and "individual businesses"?

"Certain businesses" refers to a selection or group of businesses, while "individual businesses" emphasizes each business separately. For example, ""certain businesses" are thriving" implies a group is doing well, whereas "individual businesses must adapt" stresses that each one needs to make changes.