employ a tactic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "employ a tactic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing strategies or methods used to achieve a specific goal or outcome. Example: "In order to win the negotiation, we decided to employ a tactic that involved active listening and empathy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Drug traffickers frequently employ a tactic known as corpse messaging.

The New Yorker

On the eve of the National League Championship Series, in which the St . LouisCardinals will play Barry Bonds and the rest of the San Francisco Giants, La Russa appeared to employ a tactic that had more to do with Bonds's mind than with his bat.

The New York Times - Sports

When the authorities in charge of San Francisco's Bart subway system shut down cellphone service last week to defuse an anticipated protest, they may not have realised they were the first government agency in the United States to employ a tactic that many associate, as Amy Goodman noted here this week, with the dictatorial regimes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hosni Mubarak.

The Guardian - Opinion

In this effort, McEvilley seems to employ a tactic suggested in 1987 by Cornell West in "Race and Social Theory: Toward a Genealogical Materialist Analysis", and which seems to describe an example set by Michel Foucault: "We must become more radically historical than is envisioned by the Marxist tradition.

Huffington Post

With only one group, the leader will have to designate certain players to do a certain thing each time he wants to employ a tactic.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Have you employed a tactic yourself?

The Guardian

On Feb. 7, 1951, he employed a tactic of bygone wars with a fury that overwhelmed the enemy.

The New York Times

The girls employed a tactic that they called the smile-and-nod when they didn't understand what someone was saying.

The New York Times - Magazine

That comment prompted Mr. Pitt's strongest Congressional supporter, Senator Phil Gramm, Republican of Texas, to say that the critics were employing a tactic from another era.

The New York Times

By bringing the new cases against McDougal and Hubbell — Starr's third set of charges against her and his second against him — Starr is employing a tactic that many prosecutors would hesitate to use against the Mafia.

The New Yorker

By bringing the new cases against McDougal and Hubbell Starr's third set of charges against her and his second against him Starr is employing a tactic that many prosecutors would hesitate to use against the Mafia..

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific action taken to achieve a goal, use "employ a tactic" to clearly communicate the deliberate nature of the action. For instance, "To gain a competitive edge, the company decided to employ a tactic of aggressive marketing."

Common error

Avoid using "employ a tactic" when simpler verbs like "use" or "apply" suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious. For example, instead of "We will employ a tactic of careful observation", consider "We will carefully observe."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "employ a tactic" functions as a verb phrase, where 'employ' is the verb and 'a tactic' serves as the object. It signifies the act of utilizing a specific method to achieve a desired outcome, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "employ a tactic" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of using a specific method or strategy to achieve a goal. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showing that while not extremely common, it's prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Wiki contexts. While alternatives like "utilize a strategy" or "adopt an approach" exist, "employ a tactic" is valuable for its clarity and emphasis on deliberate action. Overuse in simplistic contexts should be avoided to maintain a natural writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utilize a strategy

Replaces 'employ' with 'utilize' and 'tactic' with 'strategy', focusing on a planned approach.

adopt an approach

Substitutes 'employ' with 'adopt' and 'tactic' with 'approach', highlighting the beginning of using a method.

implement a technique

Changes 'employ' to 'implement' and 'tactic' to 'technique', emphasizing the execution of a specific skill.

apply a method

Replaces 'employ' with 'apply' and 'tactic' with 'method', focusing on the practical use of a procedure.

exercise a maneuver

Substitutes 'employ' with 'exercise' and 'tactic' with 'maneuver', suggesting a skillful action.

resort to a stratagem

Changes 'employ' to 'resort to' and 'tactic' to 'stratagem', implying a cunning or deceptive plan.

make use of a scheme

Replaces 'employ' with 'make use of' and 'tactic' with 'scheme', focusing on a systematic plan, often with a negative connotation.

take advantage of a gambit

Substitutes 'employ' with 'take advantage of' and 'tactic' with 'gambit', emphasizing a risky move with potential gain.

enact a measure

Changes 'employ' to 'enact' and 'tactic' to 'measure', highlighting a formal action taken to achieve a goal.

bring into play a move

Replaces 'employ' with 'bring into play' and 'tactic' with 'move', suggesting introducing a specific action in a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "employ a tactic" in a sentence?

You can use "employ a tactic" to describe the use of a specific method to achieve a goal. For example, "The negotiator decided to "employ a tactic" of silence to make the other party reveal more information."

What are some alternatives to "employ a tactic"?

Alternatives include "utilize a strategy", "adopt an approach", or "implement a technique", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more formal to say "employ a tactic" than "use a tactic"?

"Employ a tactic" is generally more formal than "use a tactic". "Employ" suggests a more deliberate and strategic application. In contrast, "use" is more general and can refer to any application of a method.

When is it appropriate to use "employ a tactic" versus simply "take action"?

"Employ a tactic" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the strategic and planned nature of an action. "Take action" is a broader term that simply means doing something, without necessarily implying a carefully considered strategy.