are not profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not profitable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the financial performance of a business, product, or service that does not generate a profit. Example: "Despite the initial investment, the new product line are not profitable and may need to be reevaluated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Are you surprised that most of those companies are not profitable?

Huffington Post

Four motorways profited from the equalisation system defined above, which implies that they are not profitable.

European Transport Research Review

Most are not profitable, but their strong brand recognition and rising revenue could help them achieve profitability.

Forbes

"We are not profitable," Mr. Ramirez said.

The New York Times

If companies are not profitable, it's hard to raise money.

The New York Times

More than one-third of hospitals nationwide are not profitable.

The New York Times

"We are not profitable as a league," Ackerman said.

The New York Times - Sports

Flexible SCOC-CC systems are not profitable in either region under current electricity prices.

Energy

Producing products that are not profitable is the surest way to become unemployed.

Embedded Multitasking With Small Microcontrollers

That said, Munich Re's activities in primary insurance are not profitable either.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"But 90percentt of the sites aren't profitable".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are not profitable", ensure the subject is clearly defined. For example, specify which company, product, or service is not profitable to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid prematurely labeling ventures as "are not profitable" based on short-term data. New businesses or projects often require an initial investment period before generating profits. Conduct a thorough analysis over a significant period before drawing conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not profitable" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It describes the state or condition of a subject, indicating its lack of profitability. As Ludwig AI states, it is used when discussing the financial performance of a business, product, or service.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are not profitable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a lack of financial gain across various sectors. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for analyzing the financial performance of businesses, products, or services. Predominantly featured in news, science, and business contexts, this phrase maintains a neutral register, fitting both formal and informal communication. Alternative expressions include ""are losing money"" or ""are unprofitable"", offering slight variations in emphasis. Remember to clearly define the subject when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. When discussing business, make sure you are not relying on temporary losses to make conclusions, and be sure to perform long term financial analysis to confirm if something is actually "are not profitable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are unprofitable

A more concise and direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of profitability.

are losing money

Directly indicates a financial loss, focusing on the ongoing nature of losing money.

are failing to make a profit

Highlights the failure to achieve profitability, focusing on the action of making profit.

are operating at a loss

Highlights the operational aspect of the financial loss, suggesting the business's activities are not generating profit.

are not financially viable

Focuses on the lack of financial sustainability, implying potential long-term issues.

are running in the red

An idiomatic expression indicating financial deficit, emphasizing the negative financial status.

are not lucrative

Highlights the lack of financial reward or gain, implying that the venture is not producing much wealth.

are economically unviable

Indicates that the business or project is not sustainable from an economic standpoint.

are not yielding returns

Emphasizes the lack of positive returns on investment or effort.

do not generate revenue

Focuses on the absence of income, which can imply a lack of profitability if expenses are not covered.

FAQs

How can I use "are not profitable" in a sentence?

You can use "are not profitable" to describe businesses, products, or activities that do not generate a profit. For example, "Despite high sales volume, these items "are not profitable" due to high production costs."

What are some alternatives to saying "are not profitable"?

Alternatives include "are losing money", "are unprofitable", or "are operating at a loss". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "is not profitable" instead of "are not profitable"?

Yes, but the correct form depends on the subject. Use "is not profitable" for singular subjects (e.g., "This business is not profitable") and "are not profitable" for plural subjects (e.g., "These businesses "are not profitable"").

What's the difference between "are not profitable" and "are unprofitable"?

"Are not profitable" is a more descriptive and explicit way of saying that something is not making money. "Are unprofitable" is a more concise synonym, but both essentially convey the same meaning.