Guide 130 / 200 4 alternatives 2-minute read

Better ways to say “Leverage”

A finance term that ate English.

i · Why avoid itTwo lines, no filler

"Leverage" as a verb means "use to gain advantage" — a phrase so broad that "use" fits most cases. In business writing prefer "use," "apply," "exploit," or "draw on."

ii · Before & afterDrop-in demo

Before

Leverage customer data to improve retention.

After

Use customer data to improve retention.

iii · The alternatives4 ways out

01

Use neutral

plain default

Use customer data.
02

Apply neutral

put to a purpose

Apply customer data.
03

Draw on neutral

tap an existing resource

Draw on customer data.
04

Exploit neutral

use an advantage fully

Exploit the new cohort signal.

iv · Brew tipKeep this one

If you can swap "leverage" for "use" with no loss of meaning, the swap is the right move.