below budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "below budget" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing financial matters, specifically to indicate that expenses are less than the allocated budget. Example: "The project was completed below budget, allowing us to allocate the savings to other initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

A spokesman for the Secretariat for the Economy, in a statement Saturday, said the expenses were normal for a new operation and below budget.

Huffington Post

In fact, the project even came in €30m below budget.

The Guardian - Arts

There was also talk that its non-food sales were £30m below budget last week.

The Guardian - Business

His primary boast was that stadium and infrastructure construction was ahead of schedule and below budget.

The Guardian - Sport

That decline was so great that it pulled the annual total $40 million below budget.

The New York Times

The span — twice as long as any suspension bridge previously built — was completed below budget and ahead of schedule.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

As discussed below, the budget for processing is fixed, and effectively, so is k In P max.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Tax revenues are at 20% below budgeted levels; the government is struggling to pay salaries and has unpaid bills of at least $120m.

The Economist

They found nearly half the states have had to lower their revenue forecasts below budgeted levels for the current year and that only 5 of the 50 states may finish at or near the year's initial projections.

The New York Times

That amount is slightly below the budget of the National Institutes of Health and only 3 percent as large as the Social Security budget.

The New York Times

"It had the best combination of everything they were looking for," at a price below their budget, Ms. Kim said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting financial outcomes, specify the amount or percentage by which expenses were "below budget" to provide a clearer understanding of the cost savings.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of being "below budget" if the difference is negligible. Focus on the actual savings and their practical implications rather than making broad, unsubstantiated claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "below budget" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate that something (typically expenses or costs) is less than the allocated or planned amount. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "below budget" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that expenses are less than the budgeted amount. Ludwig AI validates its usage in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. It serves to communicate financial efficiency and cost savings. While alternatives like "under budget" exist, "below budget" maintains a neutral to professional register and is widely understood. A practical tip is to always quantify the cost savings when using this phrase to provide clarity, and it's important not to overstate the significance of the savings if the difference is negligible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under budget

Replaces "below" with "under", offering a common synonym with nearly identical meaning.

less than budgeted

Rephrases using "less than" to emphasize the comparison to the budgeted amount.

within budget

Indicates that spending is not exceeding the budget, but doesn't necessarily imply being under it.

cheaper than expected

Focuses on the cost aspect, highlighting that the actual expenses were lower than anticipated.

more cost-effective

Emphasizes efficiency and value for money, suggesting that the results were achieved at a lower cost.

economical

Highlights the thriftiness and efficient use of resources.

frugal

Implies careful and restrained spending.

cost-saving

Focuses on the act of reducing costs and achieving savings.

efficiently budgeted

Highlights how efficient the budgeting was.

lower than projected costs

It highlights that the real cost was less than what was expected.

FAQs

How can I use "below budget" in a sentence?

You can use "below budget" to describe a project, expense, or financial result that cost less than was originally planned or allocated. For example: "The construction project was completed "below budget", allowing the company to invest the savings elsewhere".

What are some alternatives to saying "below budget"?

Alternatives to "below budget" include "under budget", "less than budgeted", or "within budget" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "under budget" or "below budget"?

"Under budget" and "below budget" are often used interchangeably, but "under budget" might be slightly more common in informal contexts. Both are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. Choose the one that fits the tone and style of your writing.

What does it mean for a project to be "below budget"?

When a project is "below budget", it means that the total expenses incurred were less than the amount of money that was originally allocated or planned for the project. This indicates efficient cost management and can free up resources for other initiatives.