operate out of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "operate out of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate that a business, organization, or group is located at and/or runs out of a certain place. For example: The charity organization operates out of a small office in the heart of the city.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Harbour porpoises are regularly caught in this fishery, which operates out to about 4 miles from shore using 400 or 600m nets with a mesh size of around 120mm.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Based in Uniondale, N.Y., E.A.B. has $11.5 billion in deposits and operates out of 97 branches, including 67 in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The New York Times

PedalPub reportedly operates out of 13 cities throughout the country.

Huffington Post

The magazine's editorial staff will now operate out of a 46,176-square-foot office at 7 Hanover that is less than a third of the size of its old space.

The New York Times

Allegiant plans to operate out of Terminal 6 at LAX.

Los Angeles Times

Packers O vs. Cardinals D It wasn't always pretty and rhythmic, but the Packers were able to build a lead in the first half operating out of various 3 x 1 spread sets.

The New York Times

Connectivity at Heathrow is one roadblock to collaboration: Delta is based at Terminal 4 while Virgin operates out of Terminal 3, and to make matters worse Virgin's domestic British feeder services will be relocated to Terminal 2 when the new facility opens in 2014.

The Economist

There were 5 publications documenting government programs (22%) [ 17, 18, 25, 27, 32] and 3 documenting programs operating out of mainstream primary health services (13%) [ 15, 33, 34].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

More than 20 airlines and 25,000 staff will operate out of T2, part of a construction project that includes a 1,712ft (522m) satellite pier.

BBC

We operate out of 24 different distribution centers.

Forbes

Approximately one-third of the payday loan market is online, and two-thirds of the industry operates out of about 16,000 payday loan stores in 36 states across the country, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts report in 2014.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "operate out of" to clearly specify the physical location from which an organization or activity is managed or conducted.

Common error

Avoid using "operate out of" when you simply mean "to exist in" or "to be present in". Use it specifically when the location is central to the activity or function.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "operate out of" functions as a locative marker, indicating the physical location from which an entity conducts its activities. As Ludwig AI explains, it specifies where an organization or business is based and performs its operations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Academia

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Wiki

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "operate out of" serves to pinpoint the physical location from which an entity conducts its business or activities. Although categorized as grammatically correct and usable, it appears "rare" in frequency based on the limited examples in Ludwig. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used to specify where an organization is based, therefore it is appropriate to specify the location central to the activity or function, like "conduct business from". Its register remains neutral, making it suitable for various contexts, including news and business. Usage tips suggest using it to clearly define the location and avoid using it in place of phrases like "be located in" if the operational aspect is not central to the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have headquarters in

Indicates the main administrative center or office.

be located in

Simply states the physical location of an entity.

be based at

Emphasizes the primary location or headquarters.

work from

Highlights the location from which work is conducted.

function from

Focuses on the act of performing tasks or activities from a specific location.

manage from

Focuses on the act of overseeing or directing activities from a certain location.

run from

Focuses on managing or overseeing activities from a place.

conduct business from

Specifically refers to carrying out commercial activities from a location.

be controlled from

Emphasizes that a location serves as the center of command or authority.

be stationed at

Implies a more permanent or official placement at a location.

FAQs

How can I use "operate out of" in a sentence?

You can use "operate out of" to indicate where a business, organization, or group is based, such as "The company "operates out of" a warehouse in Chicago".

What are some alternatives to "operate out of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "is based in", "functions from", or "works from".

Is it correct to say "is operating out of" instead of "operates out of"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct. "Is operating out of" implies a continuous or ongoing action, while "operates out of" describes a general or habitual action.

What's the difference between "operate out of" and "be located in"?

"Operate out of" implies that the location is a base of operations or a center for activities. "Be located in" simply indicates the physical location without implying operational activity.