trade

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "trade" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in certain contexts to mean the exchange or buying and selling of goods, services or commodities. For example: "Bob and Mary decided to trade their apples for oranges at the farmer's market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Charities and the non-government sector welcomed elements of Bishop's proposals, such as the focus on female involvement and performance benchmarks, but raised concern over the need to ensure benefits from "aid for trade" flowed to the people in greatest need and reduced poverty.

The Guardian

Britain's national interest demands that we maximise our influence and use that influence to boost growth, trade and jobs.

The Guardian

The shares have underperformed the market by 6% in the last three months and now trade at a discount to the oil service peers.

The Guardian - Business

Clarke held talks on this at a recent EU-Latin America summit in Chile with Karel De Gucht, the European trade commissioner.

The Guardian

The former European trade commissioner said: "For far too long, those who want to destroy Britain's interests and influence in Europe have been allowed to get away with murder with the lies and false propaganda they have poured out about the European Union and what it represents for our country.

The Guardian

The Tory manifesto said in vague terms that a Conservative government "would legislate to ensure trade unions use a transparent opt-in process for union subscriptions", but made no mention of the political levy.

The Guardian

They know the bank they're trading with may be taking the other side of the trade (in the Abacus deal, for instance, the flipbook said that Goldman might be short the securities).

The Economist

That is, he knows the casino is on the other side of the trade.

The Economist

In many cases, it'll balance the bets it makes on both sides of the trade, so that it's exposed to no risk and it collects the certain profit from the spread.

The Economist

In 158 pages of adverts, sponsored features, ministerial forewords and articles from academics and think tank fellows, there's a barrage of impenetrable corporate management speak concerned with "growth", "free trade" and "economic governance".

The Guardian

At this G20 I brought together a crucial meeting between President Obama and fellow European leaders to insist on urgent progress on a comprehensive EU-US trade deal that could add £10bn to the UK economy alone.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing international economics, use "trade" to refer to the exchange of goods and services between countries. For example, "The new trade agreement will boost exports".

Common error

Avoid misspelling "trade" as "traid". "Trade" refers to commerce, while "traid" is not a recognized word in English.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "trade" is as both a noun referring to commerce or a specific instance of buying/selling and as a verb meaning to engage in such activities. Ludwig AI confirms its versatile usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "trade" is a versatile term functioning as both a noun and a verb, commonly used to describe commercial activities, economic exchange, and specific transactions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. To enhance clarity and precision in writing, consider related terms like "commerce" or "exchange" depending on the intended nuance. Remember to avoid the common misspelling "traid". By understanding its various applications and potential pitfalls, you can confidently and accurately incorporate "trade" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commerce

Emphasizes broad economic activity and exchange of goods.

business

Focuses on commercial activity and enterprise.

exchange

Highlights the act of swapping goods or services.

deal

Refers to a specific agreement or transaction.

transaction

Focuses on a single instance of buying or selling.

dealings

Implies interactions and relationships in a commercial context.

bargaining

Emphasizes negotiation in transactions.

trafficking

Implies illegal commerce.

bartering

Describes direct exchange of goods without using money.

marketing

Focuses on promoting and selling products or services.

FAQs

How can I use "trade" in a sentence?

You can use "trade" to refer to the exchange of goods or services, as in, "International "commerce" is essential for economic growth." Alternatively, you can use it as a verb to mean to exchange, as in, "They decided to "exchange" goods rather than use money."

What are some synonyms for "trade"?

Alternatives for "trade" include "business", "commerce", "exchange", or "dealings", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "trade" and "commerce"?

"Trade" typically refers to a specific instance or type of buying and selling, while "commerce" is a broader term encompassing all activities related to the exchange of goods and services.

What's the difference between "trade" and "trafficking"?

"Trade" refers to legitimate commercial activities, whereas "trafficking" refers to illegal or illicit commerce, often involving prohibited goods or exploitation.