be offset against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be offset against" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to cancel out or compensate for an expense or debt with a payment or credit. For example, "The company's donations can be offset against their tax bill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

Losses on these assets can be offset against any tax liability on future gains.

The Guardian - Money

In America, all interest payments on your home can be offset against federal income tax.

The Economist

Clearly this has to be offset against the insecurity of constantly having to find new work.

The Guardian - Tech

The cost of the royalties would be offset against its own tax bill.

The Guardian - Tech

External interest rate charges, such as those on bonds, can be offset against tax.

The Guardian - Business

If it fails, some of that loss can be offset against income tax.

The Guardian

There are lots of losses that can be offset against income or capital gains to reduce your tax bill.

The Guardian - Money

Such a tax could be offset against, say, income tax, so that taxpayers were no worse off overall.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial matters, ensure that the items being offset are clearly identified for transparency and accuracy.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "offset", which means to counteract or balance, with "omit", which means to leave out or exclude. For example, instead of saying "The cost was omitted against the budget", use "The cost was "be offset against" the budget".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be offset against" functions primarily as a passive construction, indicating that something is being counteracted or balanced by something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies canceling out or compensating an expense or debt with a payment or credit. The phrase usually suggests a formal transaction or accounting process, as seen in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be offset against" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to denote that something is being counteracted or balanced, typically a cost, debt, or negative impact. This phrase is commonly found in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts. To enhance writing clarity, ensure that the elements being offset are clearly identified. Remember to avoid confusing "offset" with "omit". Usage of this phrase is widespread, making it a valuable tool for formal communication and technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be counterbalanced by

This alternative emphasizes the balancing aspect of offsetting, suggesting an equilibrium.

be compensated for by

This phrase highlights the compensation aspect, implying a reimbursement or amends.

be mitigated by

This suggests reducing the negative impact through other means, focusing on lessening the effect.

be neutralized by

This indicates a complete cancellation of effect, aiming for a zero result.

be balanced out by

Similar to counterbalanced, this option emphasizes achieving a state of equilibrium through offsetting factors.

be discounted by

This emphasizes a reduction in value or importance due to another factor.

be deducted from

This focuses on the subtraction aspect, often used in financial or accounting contexts.

be credited against

This implies that a credit is being applied to reduce a debt or liability.

be evened out by

Similar to balancing, this highlights the process of making things equal or level.

be adjusted for

This implies a modification or correction to account for another factor.

FAQs

How is "be offset against" used in financial contexts?

In finance, "be offset against" typically refers to deducting expenses, losses, or credits from income or liabilities to reduce tax obligations or overall financial burden. For example, capital losses can "be offset against" capital gains.

What are some alternatives to using "be offset against" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "be counterbalanced by", "be compensated for by", or "be mitigated by" instead of "be offset against".

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

Both "is offset against" and "be offset against" are grammatically correct, but they serve different purposes. "Is offset against" is used in the present tense, while "be offset against" is used in the infinitive form or in conjunction with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "will be offset against", "can "be offset against"").

Can improvements to a property "be offset against" capital gains tax?

Yes, the cost of improvements to a property, such as a loft conversion or kitchen extension, can typically "be offset against" capital gains tax when the property is sold. Regular maintenance costs, however, usually cannot "be offset against" capital gains tax, but they can "be offset against" income tax on rental income.