Administrative overhead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Administrative overhead" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the costs and resources associated with managing and supporting an organization, rather than the direct costs of producing goods or services. Example: "The company needs to reduce its administrative overhead to improve overall profitability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Administrative overhead.

The Washington Post

(That percentage is the MLR.) The remainder can be allocated to administration or profits that don't benefit patients (e.g., administrative overhead, advertising, etc.).

Forbes

The first is the much higher administrative overhead costs loaded onto the American health system.

The New York Times

Turner's only condition was that his money be used only minimally for administrative overhead.

The New Yorker

Officials have taken a paring knife to administrative overhead, which means supervision and data collection suffer.

The New York Times

That designation would mean far greater costs for insurance, payroll taxes, and the accompanying administrative overhead.

The New Yorker

Of the Pentagon's $7 billion travel budget, $2 billion is spent on administrative overhead.

The New York Times

Over 50percentt of the settlements go to the attorneys and for administrative overhead.

The New York Times

Opting out, Mr. Wade says, significantly cuts payroll and lowers administrative overhead.

The New York Times

If the businesses are unwilling due to financial or administrative overhead, the government should step in.

University of California, Berkeley

Nassau's contract with its medical center requires the county to pay infirmary costs plus 21percentt for administrative overhead.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing efficiency improvements, quantify the reduction in "administrative overhead" to strengthen your argument. For example, "The new system reduced administrative overhead by 15%."

Common error

Avoid including direct production costs within "administrative overhead". Administrative overhead refers to indirect costs such as salaries of administrative staff, office supplies, and rent, not the cost of raw materials or direct labor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Administrative overhead" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Administrative overhead" is a noun phrase that refers to the indirect costs of managing an organization. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in professional and academic settings. Related phrases include "management expenses", "operational costs", and "overhead costs". When using this phrase, it's essential to differentiate it from direct production costs. As the analysis shows, "Administrative overhead" is a common term found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia, demonstrating its wide applicability and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Overhead costs

A general term for indirect business expenses.

Organizational overhead

Focuses on the overhead related to the entire organization.

Indirect costs

Costs not directly tied to production.

Management expenses

Focuses on the financial aspect of management.

Operating expenses

Similar to operational costs but more specific to business operations.

Business administration costs

Specifies the area of business related to the expenses.

Operational costs

Broader term including all expenses related to running an operation.

Support costs

Highlights the expenses related to supporting operations.

Running costs

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the expenses.

General expenses

A less specific term for various expenses.

FAQs

How to use "Administrative overhead" in a sentence?

"Administrative overhead" typically refers to indirect costs associated with running a business or organization. For example: "The company is trying to reduce its "administrative overhead" to improve profitability."

What can I say instead of "Administrative overhead"?

Alternatives include "management expenses", "operational costs", or "overhead costs" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "Administrative overhead" or "Administration overhead"?

"Administrative overhead" is the standard and correct term. "Administration overhead" is less common and not generally preferred.

What's the difference between "Administrative overhead" and "Operating expenses"?

"Operating expenses" is a broader term that includes all costs associated with running a business, while "administrative overhead" specifically refers to the indirect costs of managing the organization. Operating expenses can include production costs that are not part of administrative overhead.