below the forecast

USAGE SUMMARY

"below the forecast" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that did not meet expectations or predictions. For example, "Sales this quarter were below the forecast, so the company experienced a loss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The story was particularly troublesome in September, when revenues fell $810 million below the forecast amount.

The New York Times

Plants withered, prices spiked, and the final harvest came in 27 percent below the forecast.

The New York Times - Science

That was  about 3.9 percent below the forecast the company made on Feb. 2. Operating profits were 60.2 billion yen, or $740 million, 29 2 percent below the forecast.

The New York Times

Deviations below the forecast - such as just occurred - are simply evidence that the future will be stronger, not weaker, than the recent past.

The Guardian - Opinion

If 2013 ends up below the 13 to 20 range, then it will mean three out of five years predictions were off, both above and below the forecast.

The Guardian

The trade surplus rose to $13.1 billion from $11.4 billion in April, but that was far below the forecast for $18.6 billion in a Reuters poll.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The meeting comes as most economists see the American and world economies performing below the forecasts that prevailed before the attacks.

The New York Times

But they were below the forecasts that came before the impact of dismal box-office sales of "Titan A.E.," Fox studio's animated science fiction movie, was assessed.

The New York Times

That was far below the forecasts of economists polled by Reuters, who had expected a 0.1 percent monthly decline and and 1.1 percent annual decline.

The New York Times

Growth is expected to be between 2 and 2.5% next year - half a point below the forecasts pencilled in by Brown in his last Budget, and most City analysts believe that 2008 could be even tougher than the Treasury believes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Put another way, the average highs and lows would have to drop a cumulative 10 degrees below the forecasts issued on Monday for July 2010 to stumble at the finish line and fall short of the 1999 record, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In weather reports, consider using "below the forecast" when describing temperatures or precipitation amounts. This informs the public that weather patterns deviated from prior predictions.

Common error

Ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is "below the forecast." For example, instead of "Results were below the forecast," specify "Sales results were below the forecast" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "below the forecast" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is less than what was predicted or expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "below the forecast" is a commonly used prepositional phrase indicating that an actual outcome or value is less than what was predicted. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news, business, and financial contexts. While maintaining a neutral register, it's crucial to specify what exactly is "below the forecast" to avoid ambiguity. Semantically related alternatives include "under the projected figures" and "less than anticipated". To ensure clarity, always state the subject that is "below the forecast". In conclusion, "below the forecast" serves as a reliable indicator of underperformance against expectations, often appearing in professional and analytical discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Less than predicted

This alternative uses "predicted" which is a synonym of "forecast", thus has very little semantic transformation.

Failing to meet the forecast

This stresses the action of not achieving, appropriate for emphasizing a lack of accomplishment against a set target.

Under the projected figures

This phrase uses "projected figures" instead of "forecast", emphasizing the numerical aspect of the estimate.

Falling short of the projection

It highlights the failure to achieve a particular numerical target.

Lower than anticipated

This alternative uses "anticipated" which expresses the expectation with respect to something that will probably occur, which is a nuance that the word "forecast" does not directly have.

Under the estimated value

It focuses on a numerical assessment; this suits contexts emphasizing quantifiable results.

Beneath the predicted level

The phrase is appropriate in scenarios requiring a slightly more descriptive, yet clear, explanation of results not meeting expectations.

Short of expectations

This phrase is less formal and focuses on the failure to meet expectations.

Weaker than expected

It communicates a sense of underperformance, often used when discussing performance relative to predictions.

Not up to par with the forecast

This is an idiom that describes something that doesn't reach the standards set by the forecast, often used in informal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "below the forecast" in a sentence?

You can use "below the forecast" to indicate that an actual outcome was less than what was predicted. For example, "The company's profits were "below the forecast" due to unexpected market conditions."

What's a more formal way to say "below the forecast"?

A more formal alternative to "below the forecast" could be "under the projected figures" or "less than anticipated". These phrases maintain a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

How does "below the forecast" differ from "above the forecast"?

"Below the forecast" indicates that the actual value or outcome was less than what was predicted, while "above the forecast" indicates that it exceeded the predicted value. They are antonyms representing opposite results relative to a prediction.

Are there specific contexts where using "below the forecast" is most appropriate?

Yes, "below the forecast" is particularly suitable in business, finance, and economics when discussing performance metrics, sales figures, or economic indicators that did not meet expectations. It's also appropriate in weather forecasting and project management.