backlog of bills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "backlog of bills" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a collection of unpaid bills that have accumulated over time. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, I now have a significant backlog of bills that I need to address."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But let's hope that whatever social disarray this will cause, every penny of new lottery revenues helps pay the state's $8 billion backlog of bills.

The New York Times

"It won't take long," Mr. Dye said, "for this backlog of bills to be so outrageous that people will not deal with the state".

The New York Times

Illinois, for example, is currently trying to pay off a $4.5 billion backlog of bills to vendors going back to October.

The New York Times

In that case, Republicans say they would be in a much stronger position to bring a backlog of bills already passed by the Assembly to a vote in the Senate.

The New York Times

The poll of 1,000 people follows reports last week that senior ministers are considering moves to abandon the legislation because of the massive backlog of bills which must be cleared through the Lords in this parliamentary session.

The Guardian

As lawmakers sought to clear a backlog of bills before recessing for the summer, other unresolved business included the Central American Free Trade Agreement and repeal or revision of the inheritance tax.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

As of January this year, the state's official backlog of bill had ballooned to approximately $4.25 billion, but was estimated to be somewhere near $8.5 billion when other factors such as tax refunds and employee health insurance were taken into consideration.

Huffington Post

Sharon Grove, the DWP's director of customer experience — that's the official title, folks, and I don't think it's intentionally ironic — told me that 98% of the new DWP bills are on time and accurate, but the backlog of disputed bills is "in the thousands".

Los Angeles Times

We're fixing our billing issues and clearing even more of the backlog of late bills.

The Guardian - Business

Asya Morris, 33, who received her last Advantage subsidy in January after two years, lost her job as a caseworker this year and faces a backlog of rent bills.

The New York Times

But Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said Monday that the backlog of unpaid bills to schools, agencies, hospitals and businesses was expected to grow by $1.4 billion by next month.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing government or organizational finances, use "backlog of bills" to clearly convey a buildup of unpaid invoices or financial obligations. For example, "The state is struggling with a significant "backlog of bills" due to budget cuts".

Common error

Avoid using "backlog of bills" interchangeably with "budget deficit". A "backlog of bills" refers specifically to unpaid invoices, while a budget deficit is a broader term indicating that expenditures exceed revenue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "backlog of bills" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence, referring to a quantity of unpaid invoices or financial obligations. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "backlog of bills" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's most often used to describe an accumulation of unpaid invoices or financial obligations, especially in situations of financial strain. While alternatives like "accumulated debts" or "outstanding invoices" exist, "backlog of bills" often suggests a larger, more systemic problem. Remember that it's distinct from a "budget deficit", which is a broader term for expenditures exceeding revenue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Overdue payments

Focuses on the fact that payments are past their due date.

Outstanding invoices

Refers specifically to invoices that have not been paid yet.

Unpaid accounts

Emphasizes the lack of payment on accounts.

Accumulated debts

Focuses on the accumulation of debt, rather than specifically bills.

Payment arrears

Highlights the state of being behind on payments.

Deferred payments

Emphasizes that payments have been postponed or delayed.

Unsettled debts

Indicates debts that have not been resolved or paid off.

Unpaid obligations

Broader term encompassing various types of financial responsibilities not met.

Accounts payable surplus

Highlights the surplus of money owed

Outstanding financial commitments

Focuses on the commitments that have not been fulfilled financially.

FAQs

How can I use "backlog of bills" in a sentence?

You can use "backlog of bills" to describe a situation where there are many unpaid invoices. For example, "The company is struggling to manage its "backlog of bills" due to recent economic downturn".

What's the difference between "backlog of bills" and "outstanding invoices"?

While both phrases refer to unpaid financial obligations, "backlog of bills" often implies a larger, more systemic issue, while "outstanding invoices" is more specific to individual invoices that haven't been paid yet.

What can I say instead of "backlog of bills"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "accumulated debts", "overdue payments", or "unpaid accounts".

Is "backlog of bills" formal or informal?

"Backlog of bills" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase suitable for business, financial, and news contexts. It's not typically used in casual conversation.