leveraging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leveraging" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business or strategic context to describe the act of using something to maximum advantage. Example: "The company is leveraging its existing resources to expand into new markets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We know how to reduce the degree of leveraging in financial markets, how to tax the volume of transactions in those markets, how to protect banks' main holdings from speculative activity.

The Guardian - Opinion

GNM also recently announced that it is opening a West Coast office to accelerate its commercial and digital presence, leveraging business and technology links in Silicon Valley and other parts of California.

The Guardian

Furthermore, by leveraging this data, businesses will be able to offer personalised services for users, for example smart meter data could permit utilities to offer new tariffs, such as time-of use pricing which will encourage end-users to use energy in off-peak times when it is cheaper.

The Guardian

The biggest opportunity is in leveraging more capital investment in infrastructure, including in power generation, road and rail links, housing and super-fast broadband.

The Guardian - Opinion

Janz: "I'm excited to take on this incredible opportunity to make HuffPost Australia an engaging and influential platform for Australians to voice their thoughts, opinions and commentary – whilst leveraging the Huffington Post's global footprint".

The Guardian

They are actually €590m £507mm) in debt but think they can make a profit from the deal by broadening their offer to the Asian market and leveraging Bale's image rights.

The Guardian - Sport

Public support is then one way of leveraging influence over the government, especially as a one-day strike is only a very short action.

The Guardian - Opinion

The much-ballyhooed leveraging of the euro-zone rescue fund agreed on in October is going nowhere.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The de-leveraging of the past three years as companies cut costs, restored profits and paid down debt may have drawn to a close in Europe, and in America it has given way to a mild net increase in borrowing to finance more capital spending and share buybacks.

The Economist

Yet in practice we haven't yet seen much re-leveraging of the household sector.

The Economist

He did not revisit the idea of "core competences" in the light of the poor performance of some of the Japanese Godzillas he once worshipped, nor the idea of "stretch" in the wake of the epidemic of over-leveraging.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure that it's clear what is being "leveraged" and what the intended outcome is for maximum impact. For example, instead of writing: "The company is leveraging data", specify: "The company is leveraging customer data to personalize marketing campaigns".

Common error

Avoid using "leveraging" excessively in business writing, as it can come across as jargon. Opt for more direct and simpler alternatives like "using" or "capitalizing on" when appropriate to maintain clarity and a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leveraging" is that of a present participle, often functioning as a gerund or part of a continuous verb tense. As shown by Ludwig, it describes an ongoing action or process of using something to its maximum advantage. The phrase typically modifies a noun or verb, adding detail to the action being described.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Reference

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leveraging" functions as a present participle to describe strategically maximizing resources or opportunities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse fields, including news, business, science, and encyclopedias. While extremely common, it's essential to use "leveraging" judiciously to avoid jargon and to be specific about what is being leveraged and to what end. Alternatives like "utilizing", "capitalizing on", and "harnessing" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Keep in mind that clarity and precision are key when incorporating this versatile term into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capitalizing on

Emphasizes taking full advantage of an opportunity.

utilizing

Focuses on the practical use of a resource or tool.

harnessing

Suggests controlling and directing a force or resource.

making the most of

Implies optimizing a situation or resource.

exploiting

Can have a negative connotation, suggesting unfair use.

building on

Focuses on using existing achievements as a foundation for future success.

taking advantage of

Can be neutral or negative, depending on the context, implying opportunism.

drawing on

Suggests using experience or knowledge as a resource.

profiting from

Implies gaining a benefit, often financial, from a situation.

employing

Highlights the use of specific methods or strategies.

FAQs

How can I use "leveraging" in a sentence?

You can use "leveraging" to describe using something to maximum advantage. For instance, "The company is "leveraging" its existing resources to expand into new markets."

What can I say instead of "leveraging"?

You can use alternatives like "utilizing", "capitalizing on", or "harnessing" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "leveraging" over "using"?

"Leveraging" often implies a strategic or calculated use of a resource for significant gain, whereas "using" is a more general term. Use ""leveraging"" when you want to emphasize the maximization of benefit.

Is "leveraging" formal or informal?

"Leveraging" tends to be more formal, often used in business or technical contexts. In casual conversation, simpler words like "using" or "making the most of" might be more appropriate.