are offset against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are offset against" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in financial or accounting contexts to indicate that one amount is deducted from another. Example: "The losses from the previous quarter are offset against the profits made this quarter to determine the overall financial performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Those massive investments are offset against corporation tax under standard allowances used by all businesses, big and small.

The Guardian

Exposed stone walls, big fireplaces and wooden panelling are offset against quirky contemporary furniture, soft drapes and white walls.

Independent

These are offset against the cost of running parking operations, leaving some councils with a deficit.

BBC

A and B molecules are linked into separate H-bonded strands with translation symmetry, which are offset against one another by one half of a translation period.

Chemistry Central Journal

Via C4/6 carbonyl groups, they form two parallel N H···O=C bonded strands which are offset against one another by one half of a period along the translation vector.

Chemistry Central Journal

The matching principle dictates that accountants record expenses in the period when they are incurred and that they are offset against their corresponding revenues.[2].

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They are treating the paltry fines as 'operating costs', which they are offsetting against the vast profits they are raking in.

The Guardian - Money

This loss is offset against the company's tax bill.

The Guardian

Long‐term losses must be offset against long‐term gains, and short‐term losses should be offset against short‐term gains.

The New York Times

Debt payments can be offset against profits to minimise tax bills.

The Guardian - Tech

Any potential harm to competition would need to be offset against these benefits".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are offset against" in financial contexts, ensure that both the item being offset and the item it's being offset against are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

A common mistake is assuming "are offset against" implies complete elimination. The offsetting may only partially reduce the impact, not necessarily negate it entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are offset against" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that certain items or values are being reduced or counteracted by others. Ludwig examples show its use in financial and accounting contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are offset against" is a grammatically sound construction used to convey that certain elements diminish the effect of others, as indicated by Ludwig AI. While relatively rare, its usage is precise and generally occurs in financial or accounting contexts, primarily within News & Media and academic writing. Remember that the meaning of "are offset against" often implies a balancing or reduction, but not necessarily a complete negation, and consider alternative phrasing such as "are counterbalanced by" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are counterbalanced by

Emphasizes the balancing effect, suggesting an equal and opposite force.

are compensated by

Highlights that something negative is made up for by something positive.

are counteracted by

Similar to 'counterbalanced', focusing on opposing actions.

are reduced by

Focuses on the decrease in amount or impact due to another factor.

are mitigated by

Suggests that the severity of something is lessened by another element.

are balanced out by

Emphasizes the equilibrium achieved through the opposing force.

are diminished by

Similar to 'reduced by', but with a connotation of gradual decrease.

are neutralized by

Implies that the effect is completely cancelled out.

are lessened by

Indicates a decrease in intensity or degree.

are discounted by

Focuses on reducing the value or importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "are offset against" in a sentence?

You can use "are offset against" to describe how one thing reduces or balances another. For example, "The costs of the project are offset against the expected profits."

What is a good substitute for "are offset against"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "are offset against" include "are counterbalanced by", "are compensated by", or "are reduced by".

Is it correct to say "is offset against" instead of "are offset against"?

Yes, "is offset against" is correct when referring to a singular subject, whereas "are offset against" is used for plural subjects. For example, "The loss is offset against the gain."

What's the difference between "are offset against" and "are balanced by"?

"Are offset against" often implies a financial or quantitative reduction, while "are balanced by" suggests a more general equilibrium or counteraction of different elements. Although similar, if we want a pure semantic substitute we could use "are counterbalanced by".