a significant surplus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant surplus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an excess amount of something, often in financial or resource contexts. Example: "The company reported a significant surplus in its budget this quarter, allowing for new investments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

A significant surplus in short circuit current can be realized by using round wires.

Energy Procedia

Granta usually accumulated a significant surplus which would traditionally be spent on an end-of-year party.

The Guardian - Books

He contends the town could balance its $14 million budget, maintain a significant surplus and pay for operational costs with a 40 to 50percentt electricity increase.

The New York Times

The first results showed a significant surplus of NE-OBT activity in biota of the valley of Mohelno reservoir and Jihlava river.

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

The city is poised to end the current fiscal year with a significant surplus, and recently two of the major bond-rating agencies — Moody's and Fitch — changed their outlook on the city's finances from "negative" to "stable".

The New Yorker

After studying the tax receipts flowing into the Government's coffers in the days following April 15, the budget office found that while there would be a significant surplus this year, it was unlikely to be as big as the $50 billion that the conventional wisdom has come to assume.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The expenses were certainly high; in a letter to Hagenauer sent in September 1763, after ten weeks on the road, Leopold reported expenses to date as 1,068 florins, an amount covered by their concert earnings without, however, any significant surplus.

Wikipedia

As expected, a highly significant surplus of homozygous genotypes was found, although there were 13 discrepancies in the form of parents that were negative in the test for QTL while being subsequently deduced to have the heterozygous genotype.

BMC Genomics

A subtle, but significant surplus of affected fibres was found in Fgd4 − / − mice compared with wild-type mice (Fig. 3), confirming an early onset of this characteristic morphological phenotype.

Brain

According to the OECD's own estimates, the "underlying primary balance" of the eurozone as a whole has gone from significant deficit to significant surplus since 2009, a swing of about 4 percent of GDP.

The New York Times

"The government are not targeting an under-performing agency with a need to make savings as the DVLA is self-financing and produces a significant operating surplus," he said.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial situations, using "a significant surplus" effectively communicates a positive financial state. Ensure to quantify the surplus when possible to provide a clearer picture.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant surplus" when the surplus is marginal or inconsequential. Ensure that the surplus truly warrants the descriptor "significant" to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant surplus" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" is an adjective modifying the noun "surplus". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage as demonstrated in various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant surplus" is a noun phrase used to describe a noteworthy excess of something, particularly in financial or resource-related contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase in written English. It is commonly found in news articles and scientific publications. While "significant" emphasizes the importance or magnitude of the surplus, it's important to ensure the term is used accurately to avoid overstating the situation. Alternatives include "a substantial surplus", "a considerable excess", and "a sizable surplus". The phrase is valuable for clearly communicating a positive state of abundance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial surplus

Replaces "significant" with "substantial", indicating a considerable amount.

a considerable surplus

Uses "considerable" instead of "significant", suggesting a noteworthy or appreciable surplus.

a sizable surplus

Substitutes "significant" with "sizable", emphasizing the large size of the surplus.

a large excess

Replaces "surplus" with "excess", indicating an amount beyond what is necessary or normal, while "large" substitutes "significant".

a notable surplus

Employs "notable" instead of "significant", highlighting the conspicuousness of the surplus.

a marked surplus

Uses "marked" instead of "significant", suggesting the surplus is easily noticeable or distinct.

an important surplus

Swaps "significant" with "important", focusing on the consequential nature of the surplus.

a material surplus

Substitutes "significant" with "material", emphasizing the tangible or consequential nature of the surplus.

a considerable excess

Combines "considerable" and "excess", highlighting a substantial overage.

an appreciable surplus

Uses "appreciable" instead of "significant", indicating that the surplus is large enough to be recognized or valued.

FAQs

How to use "a significant surplus" in a sentence?

You can use "a significant surplus" to describe a situation where there is a notable excess of something, such as "The company reported "a significant surplus" in its annual budget".

What can I say instead of "a significant surplus"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial surplus", "a considerable excess", or "a sizable surplus" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a significant surplus" or "a significant deficit"?

Both are correct, but they have opposite meanings. "A significant surplus" means there is a considerable excess, while "a significant deficit" means there is a considerable shortage.

What's the difference between "a significant surplus" and "a slight surplus"?

The difference lies in the magnitude of the excess. "A significant surplus" indicates a large and noteworthy excess, whereas "a slight surplus" indicates a small and less impactful excess.