Devote money

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devote money" is not correct.
In written English, you would need to use a phrasal verb such as "allocate money," "set aside money," "assign money," or " earmark money." For example: The nonprofit organization earmarked money to help those affected by the disaster.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But after the hurricane, they need to devote money to rebuilding.

The New York Times

He acknowledged, however, that the city would eventually need to devote money to build more permanent spaces for preschool as part of a capital budget.

The New York Times

Unless optimism actually causes success, it would be a mistake to devote money and energy to inspiring optimism rather than, say, developing skills.

University of California, Berkeley

States should also devote money from their block grant surpluses to providing transitional public jobs for those who still need a foothold in the work force.

The New York Times

But off-street parking requirements have themselves become an expensive problem: developers must devote money and space to parking lots and garages, or not build at all.

The New York Times

Because no pharmaceutical companies will devote money to an advertising campaign, Dr. Roberts has turned to nontraditional means to share the information with doctors around the world, including cartoons and manga comics.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Some Republicans question devoting money and other resources to defending her next year.

The New York Times

Up first is a David Broder column praising the recent housing bill for devoting money to the provision of affordable housing.

The Economist

The Senate's language suggests that the government has held back from devoting money, equipment and personnel to border security.

The Washington Post

But in general, he said, there is little interest in devoting money, time and space to their preservation.

The New York Times - Science

The campaign has also devoted money to hiring more field organizers and staff members, according to Clinton advisers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Favor the passive form and more professional verbs. Instead of stating that an entity should "devote money", phrase it as "funds should be allocated".

Common error

While "devote" can imply dedication, it's less precise than terms like "allocate", "assign", or "earmark" when referring to money. This can lead to ambiguity in formal or business writing. Use "allocate", "assign", or "earmark".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote money" functions as a verb phrase where "devote" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("money"). Although frequently used, it is grammatically less precise than alternatives. As Ludwig AI states, it is not correct and phrasal verb forms are advisable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devote money" is commonly used to describe the act of allocating funds, however, it's deemed grammatically incorrect, as reported by Ludwig AI. Alternatives such as "allocate funds", "assign funds", or "earmark funds" are more precise and appropriate for formal writing. While "devote money" appears across various sources, including news and media, its lack of precision makes it less desirable in professional contexts. When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, opting for alternatives is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Allocate funds

Replaces "devote" with "allocate", which is a more formal and grammatically sound synonym in the context of money.

Assign funds

Uses "assign" instead of "devote", suggesting a more direct and official allocation of money.

Earmark funds

Replaces "devote" with "earmark", indicating that money is set aside for a specific purpose.

Set aside funds

Uses "set aside" instead of "devote", implying that the money is reserved or saved for later use.

Invest funds

Suggests using money with the expectation of future returns or benefits.

Expend funds

Replaces "devote" with "expend", focusing on the act of spending or using money.

Commit funds

Indicates a formal pledge or dedication of money to a particular cause or project.

Channel funds

Implies directing money towards a specific area or recipient.

Appropriate funds

Suggests a formal and authorized allocation of money, often by a legislative body.

Apply resources

Broadens the scope to include resources beyond just money, such as time and effort.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "devote money"?

While the phrase "devote money" is frequently used, it's not considered grammatically ideal in formal writing. Better alternatives include "allocate funds", "assign funds", or "earmark funds".

What are more formal alternatives to "devote money"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "allocate funds", "appropriate funds", or "commit funds". These options convey a sense of official or deliberate financial allocation.

In what contexts is "devote money" acceptable?

While "devote money" may appear in informal contexts, it's advisable to use more precise language in formal writing. For instance, use phrases such as "allocate funds", "assign funds" or "earmark funds" in official documentation.

How can I use "allocate funds" instead of "devote money" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "The company will devote money to marketing", you could say "The company will "allocate funds" to marketing". This version is grammatically stronger and clearer.