accrue debt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accrue debt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of accumulating or increasing financial obligations over time. Example: "If you continue to spend beyond your means, you will accrue debt that may take years to pay off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

-Why do nations accrue debt?

The New York Times

In large-scale transactional systems, where every piece of data is essential, you're better off spending more time upfront designing systems to last and be easily maintainable — so this is a bad place to accrue debt.

TechCrunch

It is often said that one big advantage of going to graduate school in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field rather than seeking an advanced degree in the humanities or from a professional school is that graduate students in science receive financial support and do not accrue debt.

Science Magazine

In many cases, farmers accrue debt from loans for seeds, fertilizers and equipment.

Huffington Post

His efforts began to accrue debt as the Titans' first two seasons were mediocre with attendance dropping in the team's second year.

Wikipedia

Why should we give our children less by going into hock (or having them accrue debt) in order to acquire an education to prepare them for jobs that don't even exist at this point?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I am in law school and accruing debt daily.

The New York Times

We got financial aid, of course, and accrued debt on our student loans.

The New Yorker

They tended to pay the rent by using up savings, borrowing from family or friends or accruing debt.

The Guardian

president of Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland, on why his college, like many others, has accrued debt to pay for construction on campus.

The New York Times

"Among those still affected, claimants had paid the rent by: using up savings, borrowing from family and friends or accruing debt," the report says.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accrue debt", ensure the context clearly indicates the entity or individual that is accumulating the debt and the reason behind it.

Common error

Avoid using "accrue debt" passively. Instead of saying "Debt was accrued", specify who or what is accruing the debt: "The company accrued debt due to expansion costs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accrue debt" functions as a verb phrase where "accrue" (verb) acts upon "debt" (noun). It describes the process of gradually accumulating financial obligations. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accrue debt" describes the process of gradually accumulating financial obligations over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general discussions. While alternatives such as "accumulate debt" or "incur debt" exist, "accrue debt" specifically emphasizes the gradual increase. It's important to use the phrase actively, specifying who is accruing the debt, to maintain clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accumulate debt

Focuses on the gradual gathering of debt.

incur debt

Highlights the act of becoming subject to debt.

build up debt

Emphasizes the gradual increase in debt amount.

run up a debt

Implies a rapid increase in debt, often through spending.

rack up debt

Suggests accumulating debt quickly and carelessly.

get into debt

Focuses on the state of being indebted.

pile up debt

Highlights the increasing amount of debt, suggesting it's becoming unmanageable.

increase debt

A straightforward description of debt growth.

generate debt

Highlights the creation of debt.

create debt

Directly points to the action of making debt.

FAQs

How can I use "accrue debt" in a sentence?

You can use "accrue debt" to describe the process of accumulating financial obligations over time. For example: "If you continue to overspend, you will "accrue debt" that may take years to pay off".

What is a good alternative for "accrue debt"?

Alternatives to "accrue debt" include "accumulate debt", "incur debt", or "build up debt", each emphasizing slightly different aspects of increasing financial obligations.

Is it better to use "accrue debt" or "incur debt"?

Both "accrue debt" and "incur debt" are correct. "Incur debt" focuses on the moment when the debt is created, while "accrue debt" implies a gradual accumulation over time.

What causes a nation to "accrue debt"?

Nations "accrue debt" due to various factors, such as government spending exceeding revenue, economic downturns, or investments in infrastructure and public services.