to outsource

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to outsource" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business context to refer to the practice of obtaining goods or services from an external source rather than producing them in-house. Example: "The company decided to outsource its customer service operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Week's Bests Reason Not to Outsource.

The New York Times

The trend is to outsource".

The New York Times - Tech

"That is very difficult to outsource".

The New York Times

These could be harder to outsource.

The Guardian

You really ought to outsource this".

The New York Times

And it plans to outsource more manufacturing.

The New York Times

In particular, computing will be much easier to outsource.

The Economist

"We'd have to raise capital to outsource," Mr. Marsicano said.

The New York Times

"It is more convenient to outsource it," she said.

The New York Times

It's too important to our well-being to outsource".

The New York Times

We need to outsource our balance sheet funding".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When deciding whether "to outsource", carefully evaluate the core competencies of your business. Keep essential functions in-house, and consider outsourcing non-core activities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Common error

Avoid the pitfall of only considering the initial cost savings when deciding "to outsource". Factor in potential communication barriers, quality control challenges, and the risk of dependency on external providers to make a well-informed decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to outsource" functions as an infinitive verb, commonly used to describe the action of transferring business functions or tasks to external third-party providers. As per Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to outsource" is a grammatically correct and frequently used infinitive verb that describes the practice of contracting business functions to external providers. As verified by Ludwig AI, this phrase is most commonly found in news, business, and scientific contexts. When using "to outsource", consider alternatives such as "to contract out" or "to delegate" depending on the nuances you wish to convey. Remember to carefully weigh the costs and benefits before deciding "to outsource" any aspect of your business.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to contract out

Emphasizes a formal agreement to have someone else perform a task.

to delegate

Highlights the act of entrusting a task or responsibility to another party.

to subcontract

Suggests a secondary contract under a primary agreement.

to farm out

Implies sending work to external entities, often for cost-effectiveness.

to externalize

Focuses on moving internal functions to an external provider.

to relocate

Suggests moving an operation to a different location, potentially with external management.

to offshore

Specifically refers to outsourcing to a foreign country.

to assign

Focuses on formally allocating tasks or responsibilities.

to procure externally

Highlights the acquisition of services or goods from external sources.

to obtain from a third party

Emphasizes the use of an independent provider.

FAQs

How can I use "to outsource" in a sentence?

You can use "to outsource" to describe the action of contracting work to an external company or individual. For example, "The company decided "to outsource" its customer service operations".

What are some alternatives to "to outsource"?

Alternatives include "to contract out", "to delegate", or "to subcontract", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "to outsource" instead of "to delegate"?

"To outsource" implies hiring an external party to perform a task, while "to delegate" means assigning a task to someone within your existing organization. If you are hiring a completely different firm, use "to outsource"; if you are simply reassigning responsibilities internally, use "to delegate".

What are the benefits of deciding "to outsource" a business function?

Potential benefits of deciding "to outsource" include reduced costs, increased efficiency, access to specialized expertise, and the ability to focus on core business activities. However, it's crucial to weigh these benefits against potential risks such as loss of control and communication challenges.