private undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "private undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a project or task that is conducted privately, often without public oversight or involvement. Example: "The company decided to pursue a private undertaking to develop new technology without disclosing details to competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But the suit filed in State Supreme Court says the rosy terminology violates the State Constitution's provision against use of public money in the aid of a "private undertaking".

The New York Times

WHITE PLAINS — A former Yonkers city councilwoman was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of accepting nearly $167,000 in cash and gifts in exchange for dropping her opposition to two contentious developments, including a $630 million project that is the city's largest private undertaking.

The New York Times

And the notoriously garrulous Clinton has kept to the official script that this was a "solely private" undertaking that focused on the journalists and nothing more, though it strains credulity to imagine the former president restricting his long chat with North Korea's leader to media ethics.

Huffington Post

Running the domestic side of the executive mansion was a private undertaking then, and the third and fourth president each assembled a household staff, headed by a French steward, of about ten: white and free black workers, slaves hired in the capital, as well as slaves from their plantation.

Huffington Post

After all, what is the definition of the average well-run private undertaking?

EU Parlament

Since that time, all hospitals (∼300), both public and private, undertaking arthroplasty procedures submit data to the registry.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The project, which envisions two additional floating turbines next year with 7,000-kilowatt 7,000-kilowatt is a joint publicapacityeachdertakisg by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the University of Tokyo and 10 majointndustrial enterprises.

Los Angeles Times

Additionally, given the huge increase in the amount of outsourcing, shouldn't the Freedom of Information Act be applied to the private sector undertaking work for government?

The Guardian

Law enforcement or parties in lawsuits have different rules and expectations compared to businesses doing background checks on job applicants or a private citizen undertaking a personal investigation.

Introduction to Social Media Investigation A Hands-On Approach

But Claire Gerada, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said profits made by the private companies undertaking health work would "not go back into the state, they will go to shareholders".

BBC

Inclusion of all state-funded and private hospitals undertaking bariatric surgery ensures geographical representation.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "private undertaking" when you want to emphasize that an activity is being conducted independently, without public funding or oversight. It's particularly useful in legal or business contexts where the distinction between public and private entities is important.

Common error

Avoid using "private undertaking" when you actually mean a public-private partnership. A public-private partnership involves collaboration between government and private entities, while a "private undertaking" is solely managed and funded by private individuals or organizations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "private undertaking" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies an activity or project that is carried out by a private entity, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "private undertaking" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote projects or activities carried out by private entities without public funding or oversight. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples from reputable sources. While not extremely frequent, it's commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it's distinct from "public-private partnerships". Alternatives such as "private enterprise" or "independent venture" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember that the phrase carries a formal tone and is best suited for professional or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private enterprise

Focuses on the business aspect, highlighting the private sector's involvement.

independent venture

Emphasizes the autonomy and self-reliance of the project.

personal project

Highlights the individual or personal nature of the endeavor.

confidential project

Focuses on the secrecy and non-disclosure aspect of the undertaking.

secret mission

Implies a hidden or clandestine objective.

clandestine operation

Emphasizes the covert and often illicit nature of the activity.

sole proprietorship

Highlights individual ownership and responsibility.

self-funded project

Focuses on the financial independence of the undertaking.

privately funded initiative

Emphasizes funding from private sources.

non-governmental effort

Highlights the absence of government involvement.

FAQs

How can I use "private undertaking" in a sentence?

You can use "private undertaking" to describe a project or business that is funded and managed by private individuals or companies, such as "The construction of the new office building was a completely "private undertaking"."

What are some alternatives to saying "private undertaking"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "private enterprise", "independent venture", or "personal project".

What is the difference between a "private undertaking" and a "public-private partnership"?

A "private undertaking" is solely funded and managed by private entities, while a "public-private partnership" involves collaboration and shared funding between governmental bodies and private companies.

Is "private undertaking" formal or informal language?

"Private undertaking" is generally considered formal language, suitable for business, legal, and academic contexts.