a big surplus on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big surplus on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an excess or abundance of something, typically in a financial or economic context. Example: "The company reported a big surplus on its annual budget, allowing for increased investments in new projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

India enjoys a big surplus on service trade.

The Economist

Note that even if Labour does sign up to balance the cyclically adjusted current budget in three years and reduce debt as a share of national income in two years, it will still have £50bn more to spend than the Tories by £2019/20 - because the Tories want a big surplus on the overall budget, including investment spending by then (see The £50bn gap between Tories and Labour).

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

RUSSIA'S import ban on Polish fruit and vegetables will leave Poland with a big surplus of apples by the end of the year.

The Economist

Such a big surplus of people gave birth to the worker's colonies.

Procedia Engineering

By refusing to rein in production while prices fell, the Saudis permitted a big surplus to grow and served notice on higher-cost rivals (Russia, Venezuela, American shale-oil producers) that they would not prop up other people's profit margins at the expense of their own market share.That signal has been weakened by the growing amount of oil in storage, which is absorbing most of the glut.

The Economist

But it also has a bigger surplus of vehicles on dealer lots than its competitors -- an 86-day surplus of cars and trucks, according to Mr. Healy, compared with 72 for G.M. and 65 for Ford.

The New York Times

I'd have a bigger surplus to spend by taxing corporations more.

The Guardian

(Not everyone worries about this: a counter-argument is that Japan's government has to run a big deficit only because Japan's combined private sector insists on running a big surplus).The government's fiscal-policy council will propose an outline for next year's budget in June.

The Economist

But even when the country had a big surplus instead of a big deficit, the administration never really put the break high on its long list of desired tax cuts.

Forbes

There was a big surplus.

The New York Times

What should we do with a big surplus?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a big surplus on", ensure the context clearly indicates what the surplus pertains to. For example, specify whether it's a surplus on trade, budget, or production to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a big surplus on" without specifying the area where the surplus exists. Saying "there's a big surplus on" without clarifying what it refers to can confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big surplus on" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or clause. It indicates an excess or overabundance specifically related to the object of the preposition "on". This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase's grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big surplus on" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a significant excess or advantage related to a specific aspect, such as trade or budget. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and commonly found in news and media contexts. While not highly frequent, it effectively communicates a positive balance or overabundance in a particular area. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly specify what the surplus relates to in order to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "a substantial excess regarding" and "a significant advantage concerning". Remember clarity and context are key for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial excess regarding

Replaces "big surplus" with "substantial excess" and "on" with "regarding", changing both the noun and preposition.

a large overage with respect to

Replaces "big surplus" with "large overage" and "on" with "with respect to", maintaining the sense of exceeding a limit.

a substantial excess affecting

Substitutes "big surplus" with "substantial excess" and "on" with "affecting", suggesting a direct influence or impact.

a significant advantage concerning

Substitutes "big surplus" with "significant advantage" and "on" with "concerning", altering the focus from quantity to benefit.

an outsize positive balance related to

Changes "big surplus" to "outsize positive balance" and "on" to "related to", using a more financial-oriented expression.

a notable accumulation regarding

Changes "big surplus" to "notable accumulation" and "on" to "regarding", emphasizing the process of gathering more than needed.

a marked advantage pertaining to

Substitutes "big surplus" with "marked advantage" and "on" with "pertaining to", focusing on the beneficial aspect of having more.

a considerable balance in favor of

Uses "considerable balance in favor of" to replace "big surplus on", shifting the phrase to describe a state of equilibrium rather than just an excess.

a sizable remainder concerning

Uses "sizable remainder concerning" instead of "big surplus on", highlighting what is left after accounting for debits.

an important quantity above

Replaces "big surplus" with "important quantity" and "on" with "above", shifting from describing just an excess to the fact that it is a relevant one.

FAQs

How can I use "a big surplus on" in a sentence?

You can use "a big surplus on" to describe an excess in a specific area, such as "India enjoys "a big surplus on" service trade".

What's an alternative to saying "a big surplus on"?

Alternatives include "a significant advantage concerning" or "a substantial excess regarding" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a big surplus of" instead of "a big surplus on"?

While "a big surplus of" is more common, "a big surplus on" can be correct when specifying the area where the surplus exists. They have slightly different connotations; "of" implies quantity while "on" indicates the area where the quantity is in excess.

What does it mean when a country has "a big surplus on" its trade?

It means the country's exports significantly exceed its imports in a particular category, indicating a positive trade balance in that specific area. This suggests strong competitiveness in those goods or services.