Expend funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Expend funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to budgeting, finance, or resource allocation when discussing the act of spending money. Example: "The organization decided to expend funds on new technology to improve efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

Governmental

Financial

Legal

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A State may not expend funds apportioned to that State under this section to carry out a program to purchase, operate, or maintain an automated traffic enforcement system.

Cornell University

The policies on delegation of authority are important because they draw the lines of authority and accountability to commit or expend funds.

Harvard Business Review

Although there are emotional and political pressures on the terrorism issue, this does not relieve politicians and bureaucrats of the fundamental responsibility of informing the public of the limited risk that terrorism presents and of seeking to expend funds wisely.

The Economist

Law sits on the board of Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, which -- according to Scott Jennings, a former McConnell aide hired to advise both pro-McConnell groups -- "makes decisions for the organization, including how to expend funds".

Huffington Post

In 2005 the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the governor had no authority to expend funds without legislative approval, and that if legislators failed to pass a budget in the future, only expenditures explicitly authorized in the state constitution could be made.

Wikipedia

Law sits on the board of Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, which -- according to Scott Jennings, a former McConnell aide hired to advise both pro-McConnell groups -- "makes decisions for the organization, including how to expend funds". And the majority of the money reaching Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, which as a super PAC must disclose its donors, comes from Crossroads' donor network.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The patentee is expending funds on litigation to protect a patent which is by hypothesis invalid.

Cornell University

The explicit purpose of my legislation does exactly that: it would bar the administration from expending funds for any offensive action against Iran, except in very narrow instances, without the approval of Congress.

The New York Times

In its letter of rebuke to Mr. Hilliard, the committee said, "You expended funds from your campaign accounts for purposes not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes and you converted campaign contributions to personal use".

The New York Times

For each fiscal year during which an Indiantribal organization receives or expends funds pursuant to a contract entered into, or grant made, under this chapter, the tribal organization that requested such contract or grant shall submit to the appropriate Secretary a single-agency audit report required by chapter 75 of title 31.

Cornell University

First, the California Rule does not necessarily reduce the benefits of all needy children when one of them receives outside income, for California may rationally assume that the caretaker will observe her duties to all of the AU's members and will take into account the receipt of any such income by one child when expending funds on behalf of the AU.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expend funds" when you want to convey a sense of formal or official spending, particularly in contexts related to government, finance, or large organizations.

Common error

Avoid using "expend funds" in informal or casual contexts where simpler terms like "spend money" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expend funds" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "expend" acts as a transitive verb taking "funds" as its direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the provided examples demonstrate its active use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expend funds" is a grammatically sound and usable term referring to the act of spending or utilizing money. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While "expend funds" is not incorrect, remember it carries a tone of formality, making it more suitable for professional, governmental, or financial contexts rather than casual conversation. Semantically related alternatives include "allocate resources" and "spend money", which may be appropriate depending on the specific context. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media and academic sources, confirming its professional usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Spend money

A more general and informal term for using funds.

Allocate resources

Focuses on the strategic distribution of resources, including but not limited to funds.

Disburse funds

Implies a formal or official distribution of funds.

Apply funding

Emphasizes the purposeful use of funds for a specific project or cause.

Commit funding

Indicates a firm pledge to provide financial support.

Invest capital

Suggests spending with the expectation of future returns or benefits.

Appropriate funds

Refers to the formal allocation of funds by a legislative body or governing authority.

Allocate budget

Focuses on distributing a specific budget among different categories or projects.

Utilize financial resources

A more formal and comprehensive way to describe the use of funds.

Devote resources

Highlights the commitment of resources, including funds, to a particular purpose.

FAQs

What does "expend funds" mean?

The phrase "expend funds" means to spend or use money, typically in a formal or official context. It implies a deliberate allocation of resources.

What's a less formal way to say "expend funds"?

A less formal way to say "expend funds" is to "spend money". This alternative is suitable for everyday conversation and less formal writing.

When is it appropriate to use "expend funds"?

It is appropriate to use "expend funds" in formal settings, such as government reports, financial statements, or legal documents, where a sense of official or deliberate spending is intended.

Is "expend funds" interchangeable with "allocate funds"?

While related, "expend funds" focuses on the act of spending, whereas "allocate resources" emphasizes the decision-making process of assigning resources to different purposes. Therefore, they are not always interchangeable.