it avails itself of

USAGE SUMMARY

'it avails itself of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something taking advantage of an opportunity. For example, "The company avails itself of every chance to increase sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"A religious organization does not give up any First Amendment rights because it avails itself of services available to anyone," Mr. Raum said.

The New York Times

Creeping into the whelk shell of Louisa May Alcott's celebrated novel, it avails itself of the spirals to do double and triple twists inside them.

The New York Times - Books

The other disturbing thing in the government's motion is the way it avails itself of the notion that judges should be particularly deferential to Congress in times of war.

The New Yorker

It is impossible that the city be domesticated and dominated by a single interest, even when this appears as strong, and when it avails itself of the strength of economic and political power.

City, Territory and Architecture

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The government, for example, would not allow itself to bid down the price of drugs for Medicare, the public health programme for the elderly; nor would it avail itself of research on the value and efficacy of different medicines.The abandonment of these potential money-savers reflected the fight within the administration between the economic and policy teams.

The Economist

In a similar arrangement to Chevron's, it availed itself of some $1.6 billion in tax-exempt financing to help  build its headquarters in Lower Manhattan under a post 9/11 effort, while agreeing, in a related program, to keep 8,900 jobs in the city.

The New York Times

It gets more exotic from there, as Chesapeake avails itself of innovative financial tools on a massive scale.

Forbes

Commerzbank, based in Frankfurt, said it would avail itself of 8.2 billion euros, or $10.5 billion, from Germany's financial markets stabilization fund to strengthen its capital base.

The New York Times

If PREPA were located in an American state, it could avail itself of Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Vice

Because Puerto Rico is not a state, it cannot avail itself of the provision in federal bankruptcy law that enables cities like Detroit to restructure its debt in an orderly fashion.

Huffington Post

When it comes to monetary policy, the old cliche almost fits: you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it avail itself of super-low interest rates to kickstart a sustainable recovery.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the nuance: "it avails itself of" suggests a conscious decision to use a resource or opportunity that is readily available.

Common error

Avoid using "it avails itself of" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "uses" or "takes advantage of" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it avails itself of" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a subject is making use of an opportunity, resource, or service. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. This usage suggests a proactive action to benefit from what is available.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it avails itself of" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate that a subject is taking advantage of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for written English, particularly in formal contexts such as news, science, and business, though less common in everyday speech. While grammatically sound, consider using simpler alternatives like "it makes use of" in informal settings. This phrase is relatively rare, but when used appropriately, it conveys a sense of sophistication and deliberate action. Remember to avoid overuse in casual contexts and ensure the reflexive pronoun "itself" is included for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it makes use of

Uses a more common and less formal vocabulary.

it takes advantage of

Implies a more opportunistic and potentially strategic approach.

it utilizes

Focuses on the practical application and function of something.

it leverages

Suggests maximizing the benefit or impact from something.

it capitalizes on

Emphasizes exploiting an opportunity for gain.

it draws on

Highlights reliance on a particular resource or source.

it benefits from

Highlights that something is advantageous or favorable.

it exploits

Carries a stronger connotation of taking full advantage, possibly to an extreme degree.

it profits from

Focuses on the benefit or gain derived from something.

it harnesses

Implies controlling and directing power or resources for a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "it avails itself of" in a sentence?

Use "it avails itself of" to indicate that something is taking advantage of an available resource or opportunity. For example, "The company avails itself of new technologies to improve efficiency".

What can I say instead of "it avails itself of"?

You can use alternatives like "it makes use of", "it takes advantage of", or "it utilizes" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it avails itself of" or "it avails of"?

"It avails itself of" is the correct form. The reflexive pronoun "itself" is necessary because the subject "it" is both the actor and the recipient of the action.

What's the difference between "it avails itself of" and "it leverages"?

"It avails itself of" suggests using something readily available, while "it leverages" implies maximizing the impact or benefit from something. "Leverages" often suggests a more strategic or calculated approach.