at breakeven

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at breakeven" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in financial contexts to indicate a point where total revenues equal total costs, resulting in neither profit nor loss. Example: "The company expects to reach at breakeven by the end of the fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

It operates at breakeven and has funneled $1.2 million to the charities it supports since it began operation in 1999.

MIT Technology Review

"It is all going to be on continued cost take-out … and I think towards the end of 2010 and into 2011" it will be at breakeven.

The Guardian

The idea being, those that supported the stock by buying, then watched the stock fall below their buying price, might be happy to get out at breakeven.

The New York Times

It is also looking to expand beyond phone networks, into system configuration for large businesses – and has ambitions in smartphones: it shipped 52m units in 2013, up 60%, roughly at breakeven point.

The Guardian

A convoluted and complex negotiation around how best to implement rules designed to ensure clubs eventually operated at breakeven (with certain caveats that allowed unlimited spending on youth development and infrastructure).

The Guardian - Sport

On average 5 years or more to arrive at breakeven.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Also at the breakeven pressure ratio (pressure ratio at which the COP of both system is the same) the ORC driven VCR system also gives a better second law efficiency than the AR system.

International Journal of Refrigeration

At the breakeven point, where the optimal NPV is 0, the unit production cost of hydrocarbon biorefinery is $4.43 per gasoline-equivalent gallon (GEG) with unit GWP of 20.92 kg CO2 eqv./GEG.

Computers & Chemical Engineering

The economic comparison has shown that scenario 3 is the most profitable due to its high net present value (NPV) and low payback period as well as to its low production rate (40% of the full production rate) at the breakeven point.

Desalination

Every other smartphone company has been losing money to operating at a breakeven level.

Forbes

Jeff Bezos laid out this business model in his annual letter to shareholders last year: "Our business approach is to sell premium hardware at roughly breakeven prices," Bezos wrote in April 2013.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at breakeven", ensure the context clearly defines what is breaking even (e.g. a company, a project, a specific product line). This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming "at breakeven" automatically implies success. While reaching this point is a milestone, it doesn't account for opportunity cost or potential for greater profitability. Consider other metrics for a complete financial picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at breakeven" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating a financial state where total revenues equal total expenses. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a common expression in business and economic contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at breakeven" describes a financial state where revenues equal expenses. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically correct and usable expression in business and economic contexts. While it appears most frequently in News & Media, it also has a presence in Science and Formal & Business contexts. Remember that reaching "at breakeven" isn't always a sign of ultimate success; it's crucial to consider it in conjunction with other financial indicators.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the break-even point

More formal and explicit phrasing of the same concept.

breaking even

Focuses on the action of reaching the breakeven point, rather than the state of being there.

cost-neutral

Highlights the balance between costs and revenue.

operating at no profit, no loss

Elaborates on the meaning of breakeven, specifying both profit and loss.

zero-profit

Emphasizes the absence of profit.

without profit or loss

A more verbose way of saying "at breakeven".

at parity

Indicates a state of equality, in this case, between costs and revenue.

self-sustaining

Highlights the ability to cover costs without external support.

covering costs

Focuses on the aspect of matching revenue to expenses.

in equilibrium

Suggests a state of balance between income and expenditure.

FAQs

How can I use "at breakeven" in a sentence?

You can use "at breakeven" to describe a state where total revenues equal total costs. For example: "The company aims to be "at breakeven" by the end of the year."

What does it mean to be "at breakeven"?

Being "at breakeven" means that a business or project is neither making a profit nor incurring a loss. Revenue is exactly equal to expenses.

What are some alternatives to saying "at breakeven"?

Alternatives include "breaking even", "at the break-even point", or "cost-neutral". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it good or bad to be "at breakeven"?

It depends on the situation. Reaching "at breakeven" can be a positive milestone for a new business or project. However, it may be insufficient for established entities seeking growth and profitability.