bookkeeping

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bookkeeping" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the recording of financial transactions and maintaining financial records for a business or individual. Example: "She has a degree in accounting and specializes in bookkeeping for small businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not only did its soaring descriptions of the freedom of flight ("the airplane is a means of getting away from towns and their bookkeeping and coming to grips with reality") inspire me to learn how to fly (I had my first lesson in August and I'm hooked!) it also was part of the reason I gave up my job in advertising (which might as well be bookkeeping) to write.

The Guardian - Books

The theory advanced by Schmandt-Besserat to explain this transformation is that the clay shapes are tokens representing agricultural goods such as grain, sheep, and cattle and that they were used as a form of bookkeeping.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The low-key, practical Waddell oversaw purchasing, hiring, payroll, and bookkeeping from the home office, which moved from Leavenworth, Kansas (where the company had been headquartered since 1855), to St .Joseph, Missouri, the eastern starting point for the Pony Express.

Encyclopedia Britannica

From 1957 she taught bookkeeping, typing, shorthand, and business law at Monroe County Training School.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Essentially, bookkeeping provides two kinds of information: (1) the current value, or equity, of an enterprise and (2) the change in value profit or loss taking place in the enterprise over a given period of time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The double-entry method of bookkeeping began with the development of the commercial republics of Italy, and instruction manuals for bookkeeping were developed during the 15th century in various Italian cities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In any case, abacus beads can be readily manipulated to perform the common arithmetical operations addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division that are useful for commercial transactions and in bookkeeping.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The public is perfectly aware that the demand for performance creates the conditions for cheating in sport, as it does for fraud in science or in bookkeeping.

The New Yorker

Gives an example of bookkeeping on parity, and another paragraph on multiple charge states.

The New Yorker

Claudia is responsible for bookkeeping and testing new games.

The New Yorker

In 1968, the stock market started closing one day a week to let firms catch up on their work, but the brokerages' bookkeeping woes caught up to them first, and more than a hundred firms went under.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "bookkeeping", be specific about which aspect you are referring to (e.g. setting up a new system, managing existing records, or reviewing past financial data) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "bookkeeping" interchangeably with accounting. "Bookkeeping" is the recording of financial transactions, while accounting involves analyzing and interpreting that data.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bookkeeping" is as a noun, referring to the systematic recording of financial transactions. As evidenced by Ludwig, it often appears as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating the process or skill itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

31%

News & Media

29%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bookkeeping" is a widely used noun referring to the systematic recording of financial transactions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appears frequently in encyclopedias, news media, scientific publications, and formal business contexts. To avoid confusion, it's crucial to differentiate "bookkeeping" from "accounting", as the former focuses on recording data, while the latter involves analysis and interpretation. Remember to be specific when discussing "bookkeeping" to provide clarity and context in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

financial record keeping

Replaces "bookkeeping" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the nature of the records.

accounting practices

Focuses on the systematic processes involved in managing financial accounts.

financial accounting

Highlights the accounting aspect of managing finances, including recording and reporting.

accounts management

Emphasizes the managerial aspect of handling financial accounts and records.

fiscal management

Broadens the scope to include overall management of financial resources.

financial administration

Similar to fiscal management but with a focus on the administrative processes.

ledger maintenance

Focuses specifically on the upkeep of ledgers, which are key components of bookkeeping.

financial tracking

Simplifies the concept to the process of tracking financial transactions and data.

record of accounts

Highlights the function of maintaining a detailed record of financial accounts.

financial reporting

Emphasizes the aspect of reporting financial information, rather than just recording it.

FAQs

What is the difference between "bookkeeping" and "accounting"?

"Bookkeeping" is the process of recording financial transactions, while "accounting" involves analyzing, interpreting, and reporting those transactions.

What are some essential skills for "bookkeeping"?

Essential skills for "bookkeeping" include attention to detail, organization, knowledge of accounting software, and basic understanding of accounting principles.

Can I use "bookkeeping" software to automate the "bookkeeping" process?

Yes, there are many "bookkeeping" software options available that can automate tasks such as data entry, reconciliation, and report generation.

What kind of qualifications or training do I need to work in "bookkeeping"?

While formal qualifications like a degree in accounting are not always necessary, completing "bookkeeping" courses or certifications can significantly improve your job prospects and skills.