a small shortfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small shortfall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a minor deficiency or gap in something, such as finances, performance, or expectations. Example: "The project experienced a small shortfall in funding, which we need to address before moving forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even a small shortfall in central grants sends council-tax rates soaring.The simplest solution would be to restore to local councils the right to tax business premises, which has been centralised since 1990.

The Economist

They argue that even with economic growth projections for the next 75 years that are only half the last 75 years' average annual rate of 3percentthethe system will experience only a small shortfall.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This was unavailable for 2006/7, but to avoid losing a year's records and to maintain statistical power, we assumed that no deaths occurred out of hospital in 2006/7; we undertook a sensitivity analysis on the small shortfall (see appendix 1 on bmj.com).

British Medical Journal

Green let a small pensions shortfall become towering.

The Guardian - Business

The recalcitrant bondholders group admits that under the new scheme there might be a small capital shortfall but insists that this could be filled easily.

The Guardian - Business

Adding such an offset is reasonable to avoid delaying the construction just because of small shortfalls.

Urban Rail Transit

It may not sound high, but experts say demand for oil is so inflexible, and the world has so little spare production capacity, that even small shortfalls can raise prices.

The New York Times

The trade deficit shrank 5.1 percent to $41.55 billion, the smallest shortfall since December 2010, the Commerce Department said.

The New York Times

He said the World Bank could triple its own lending in 2009 to $35 billion, though that would still be a small fraction of the shortfall facing poor countries.

The New York Times

He ticked off a series of challenges he has confronted as governor: a $450 million budget shortfall, a small city in bankruptcy, Hurricane Irene and a battle over reforming the pension system.

The New York Times

New York State, which is expected to face a budget gap of at least $6 billion for the next fiscal year, hopes to recoup a small portion of the shortfall with its first tax amnesty program since 1997, officials announced yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small shortfall", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking and the implications of this deficiency. Quantify the shortfall whenever possible to provide a clearer understanding of its magnitude.

Common error

Avoid downplaying the potential impact of "a small shortfall" if it could lead to significant consequences. Even seemingly minor deficits can have cascading effects depending on the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small shortfall" functions primarily as a noun phrase that identifies a deficit or deficiency that is limited in size or scope. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it typically refers to a budget, funding, or resource deficit.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small shortfall" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a minor deficiency or deficit. Ludwig indicates its use is more frequent in News & Media and Science contexts. While the phrase suggests the deficit is not substantial, it's crucial to assess the potential impact of the shortfall in each situation. Alternatives include "slight deficit", "minor shortage", and "modest deficiency". Always strive for clarity and context when using this phrase, quantifying the shortfall when possible to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight deficit

Replaces "shortfall" with "deficit", emphasizing a financial gap.

minor shortage

Substitutes "shortfall" with "shortage", focusing on a lack of something.

modest deficiency

Replaces "small" with "modest" and "shortfall" with "deficiency", highlighting inadequacy.

slight undersupply

Replaces "shortfall" with "undersupply", focusing on insufficient supply.

marginal gap

Replaces "small" with "marginal" and "shortfall" with "gap", emphasizing a small difference.

a slight inadequacy

Replaces "shortfall" with the noun "inadequacy", which describe the deficiency.

a minor discrepancy

Focuses on a difference rather than a lack, with "discrepancy" suggesting an inconsistency.

a negligible deficit

Replaces "small" with "negligible", indicating the deficit is of very little importance.

a touch of scarcity

Emphasizes the limited availability, framing it as a slight lack.

a limited quantity

Focuses on the limited amount available, rather than the deficit itself.

FAQs

How can I use "a small shortfall" in a sentence?

You can use "a small shortfall" to describe a minor deficiency in various contexts, such as "The project experienced "a small shortfall" in funding" or "There was "a small shortfall" in the projected revenue".

What's a good alternative to "a small shortfall"?

Alternatives to "a small shortfall" include "slight deficit", "minor shortage", or "modest deficiency", depending on the specific context and what you are trying to emphasize.

Is it acceptable to use "a small shortfall" in formal writing?

Yes, "a small shortfall" is perfectly acceptable in formal writing. It's a clear and concise way to describe a minor deficit or deficiency. However, be sure to provide context and, if possible, quantify the shortfall for better clarity.

What are the implications of using the phrase "a small shortfall"?

The phrase "a small shortfall" implies that the deficiency is not significant. However, it's essential to consider the context. Even if the shortfall appears small, it could have disproportionately large consequences depending on the overall situation. Always assess the potential impact when using this phrase.