engage the services

USAGE SUMMARY

"engage the services" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to express the idea of hiring someone or something to do a specific job or task. For example, "The company decided to engage the services of a professional consultant to help them with their project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

It was entirely up to him if he wished to engage the services of prostitutes.

The Guardian

To get your home listed in an MLS, you will probably have to engage the services of a discount broker.

The Washington Post

"I realize it might be surprising, but for me it's very logical to engage the services of Joe," Mr. Gelb said in an interview on Friday.

The New York Times - Arts

DO engage the services of an expert leaf peeper to get the most out of your leafing experience — like me, for example.

The New Yorker

One manager of an EP firm explained to the PAO how companies seeking to hire foreign workers employed with a different company must travel to Riyadh and engage the services of a third party "facilitator".

The Guardian

Fleet Street newspapers paid more than £1m to engage the services of a private investigator to access the personal information of the subjects of their stories, it was revealed last night.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

As such, for the second consultation, the XWP engaged the services of a public relations company to promote community engagement and increase public participation.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

In June, I engaged the services of a contractor.

The New York Times

Bridge was upset by this, while Vanessa Perroncel quickly engaged the services of Max Clifford.

The Guardian - Sport

He engaged the services of Michael Nussbaum, a NY political consultant & was introduced to senators & congressmen.

The New Yorker

The South Australian Liberal party engaged the services of i360 for its successful state election campaign.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "engage the services" in formal writing, ensure clarity regarding the specific type of services being engaged and the expected outcomes. For instance, "The company decided to engage the services of a marketing consultant to improve brand awareness."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "engage the services" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "hire" or "get" in informal settings. Using it in the wrong context may make you seem pedantic or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "engage the services" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase. It's used to describe the action of formally hiring or contracting someone to perform a specific task or provide a service. This is supported by Ludwig AI which confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

24%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "engage the services" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to formally denote the act of hiring or contracting a professional or company. While prevalent in News & Media and Science contexts, its formality may render it less suitable for informal settings. Remember to ensure the context aligns with the phrase's professional tone, and consider alternatives like "hire the services of" or "employ the services of" for subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

procure the services of

Replaces "engage" with "procure", indicating a formal acquisition of services.

hire the services of

Uses "hire" instead of "engage", suggesting a more direct and transactional relationship.

employ the services of

Substitutes "engage" with "employ", implying a formal employment of services.

enlist the services of

Replaces "engage" with "enlist", suggesting a collaborative or supportive acquisition of services.

secure the services of

Uses "secure" in place of "engage", highlighting the act of ensuring the availability of services.

retain the services of

Employs "retain" instead of "engage", suggesting a long-term or ongoing service arrangement.

contract for services with

Rephrases as a formal contract, emphasizing the legal aspect of the service agreement.

outsource to

Implies delegating tasks to an external provider.

commission the work of

Highlights the act of commissioning specific work from a provider.

bring in

Uses a more informal term to suggest a temporary engagement of services.

FAQs

How can I use "engage the services" in a sentence?

You can use "engage the services" to indicate that you are hiring someone or using a company's services for a specific purpose. For example: "We decided to engage the services of a lawyer to handle the contract negotiations."

What are some alternatives to "engage the services"?

Some alternatives include "hire the services of", "employ the services of", or simply "hire" depending on the context.

Is "engage the services of" more formal than "hire"?

Yes, "engage the services of" is generally considered more formal than "hire". It's often used in business or professional contexts, while "hire" is more common in everyday language.

When is it appropriate to use "engage the services"?

It's appropriate to use "engage the services" in formal communications, contracts, or when you want to emphasize the professional or official nature of hiring someone or a company.