Quick question about the usage of the word "corporate"

Question

Can you refer to a company as a "corporate"?For example, "It's one good way to elevate this corporate's reputation."Thanks!

Deadrat · Accepted Answer

No, "corporate" is the adjectival form of "corporation."

Maelstrom · Answer

deadratNo, "corporate" is the adjectival form of "corporation."

So can I use "corporation" to indicate a business entity?
What if I were writing something sort of on their behalf but were referring to the company in the third person tense?
Great to see your reply btw!

BarbaraPA · Answer

Not all companies are incorporated, so not all companies are corporations.

Deadrat · Answer

A business is an organized commercial entity pursuing some endeavors in the marketplace, usually understood to be doing so for profit. The following is an oversimplification, but in the United States, there are two ways to effect the required organization -- as a corporation or as a limited liability company (LLC). The two are treated differently under the law when it comes to ownership, taxation, governance, etc. Although most large businesses are corporations and most LLCs are small, nothing in the law requires this. Chrysler, the car manufacturer, is an LLC; many two-partner professional businesses are corporations.

To be strictly accurate, you should refer to a business entity as a corporation if and only if it is incorporated. You're safe referring to a for-profit business as a company.

The third person is not a tense, which is a term reserved for verbs. Companies and corporations are usually referred to in third person. In the US, in the singular as an entirety: "The company declared it would double profits in the third quarter." A company often speaks for itself: "XYZ, Inc. denies that it pollutes the environment, and we take such charges seriously." This is particularly apt for corporations, because under US law, they are legal persons.

Maelstrom · Answer

deadrate

Thanks deadrat:)
Two questions regarding the information you provided, though.
1 Are corporations mostly two-partner companies? I do see a lot with multiple different merged companies thoug?
2 So non-profits are not supposed to be referred to as "companies"? Just "organizations"?

THanks again!:)

Deadrat · Answer

1. In the US, there are two types of corporations, S corporations and C corporations, both named after a paragraph in the Internal Revenue Code. C corporations pay taxes on their profits. S corporations don't; they pass the profits and the tax liability directly to the shareholders. I don't know whether two-partner companies make up a majority of corporations, but the IRS says that there are twice as many S corporations as C corporations, and S corporations may not have more than 100 shareholders. So if we say that 100 or fewer shareholders makes a small business, then small corporations are a majority in the US.

2. The most common non-profit is a charity. In the US charities are regulated by a paragraph in the Internal Revenue Code numbered 501(c)(3), where they are called "organizations." So that's what they're called generally. There's no reason that charities can't incorporate, so they may also be corporations. Most charities don't operate as commercial businesses by producing goods or providing services for money. They rely on donations. So we generally don't call them "companies." There are exceptions. The Newman's Own company (founded by actor Paul Newman) produces food products and sells them in grocery stores, giving its profits to charity.

Maelstrom · Answer

deadrat1. In the US, there are two types of corporations, S corporations and C corporations, both named after a paragraph in the Internal Revenue Code. C corporations pay taxes on their profits. S corporations don't; they pass the profits and the tax liability directly to the shareholders. I don't know whether two-partner companies make up a majority of corporations, but the IRS says that there are twice as many S corporations as C corporations, and S corporations may not have more than 100 shareholders. So if we say that 100 or fewer shareholders makes a small business, then small corporations are a majority in the US.2. The most common non-profit is a charity. In the US charities are regulated by a paragraph in the Internal Revenue Code numbered 501(c)(3), where they are called "organizations." So that's what they're called generally. There's no reason that charities can't incorporate, so they may also be corporations. Most charities don't operate as commercial businesses by producing goods or providing services for money. They rely on donations. So we generally don't call them "companies." There are exceptions. The Newman's Own company (founded by actor Paul Newman) produces food products and sells them in grocery stores, giving its profits to charity.

Thanks for providing such sufficient information, you are BEYOND helpful! Thanks again!:)

Deadrat · Answer

Bear in mind that everything I've said is about US law.  I have no idea how businesses operate outside the US, and the language that applies to those businesses may differ from what I've described.

Maelstrom · Answer

Yes I've always been aware of that all along.
Your detail does specify already:)

Quick question about the usage of the word "corporate"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions