Surplus funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Surplus funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial contexts to refer to extra money that is available after all expenses have been paid. Example: "After reviewing the budget, we found that we have surplus funds that can be allocated to new projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Surplus funds are generally funneled to the building's reserve fund or used to reduce next year's maintenance increase," he said.

The New York Times

A positive net cash flow means that the firm will have surplus funds to invest.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Democrats had long opposed using projected surplus funds to pay for those items.

The New York Times

Mr. Levy said he would rather see any surplus funds spent on services like health care.

The New York Times

So Mr. Forster sent a pleading letter to everyone, anyone, who might have surplus funds.

The New York Times

The state government used $1.5 million in surplus funds in 2001 to boost mosquito testing programs.

The New York Times

The Democrats had long opposed using surplus funds expected next year to pay for those items.

The New York Times

I cannot recall the federal government's ever banking surplus funds in a protected account, even during the surplus-laden 1990s.

The New York Times

Savers with surplus funds to meet retirement requirements may well find a better use for that money.

Independent

Dressing up such schemes to use Social Security surplus funds as "bridge loans" will not change that basic reality.

The New York Times

At the end of the year, the member-operated loan committees often returned surplus funds to borrowers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, specify the exact amount of "surplus funds" and how they will be utilized to maintain transparency and accountability.

Common error

Avoid allocating "surplus funds" to cover recurring operational costs. These funds are best reserved for investments, unexpected expenses, or strategic initiatives, not day-to-day operations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surplus funds" primarily functions as a noun phrase, identifying an amount of money that is more than what is currently needed for expenses or obligations. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surplus funds" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that refers to money exceeding current needs. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It commonly appears in news, encyclopedias, and science-related content, indicating financial discussions or reporting. While versatile, its inherent financial context suggests a somewhat formal tone. Alternatives include "excess funds" or "available funds". Remember to use "surplus funds" to define clearly excess capital, rather than to fill an operating budget gap.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excess funds

Replaces "surplus" with "excess", indicating an amount beyond what is necessary.

extra funds

Simple substitution of "surplus" with "extra", maintaining a similar meaning.

additional funds

Simply denotes funds that are supplementary or more than what was initially required.

available funds

Focuses on the accessibility of the money rather than the fact that it is extra.

excess capital

More formal and emphasizes that the excess is in the form of capital.

available capital

Focuses on accessibility of the capital and is more formal and emphasizes that the excess is in the form of capital.

excess reserves

Similar to "reserve funds" but directly indicates they are in excess.

unspent funds

Highlights that the funds have not been used yet, rather than just being extra.

disposable funds

Emphasizes that funds are free to be used at will.

reserve funds

Implies funds specifically set aside for future use, differing from general surplus.

FAQs

How can I use "surplus funds" in a sentence?

You can use "surplus funds" to describe extra money available after expenses. For example: "The company decided to invest its "excess funds" in research and development".

What's the difference between "surplus funds" and "excess funds"?

"Surplus funds" and "excess funds" are often used interchangeably, both referring to more money than is needed. However, "surplus" can sometimes imply a planned or expected amount, while "excess" might suggest an unplanned overage.

What are some alternatives to saying "surplus funds"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "available funds", "extra funds", or "unspent funds" to convey a similar meaning.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "surplus funds"?

"Surplus funds" is appropriate in financial, business, and governmental contexts when discussing budget surpluses, investment opportunities, or reallocation of resources. It is also common in news and media when reporting on these topics.