budget surplus

USAGE SUMMARY

"budget surplus" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of public finance/government economics. For example: "The government created a budget surplus last year due to increased tax revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And a monster budget surplus.

The New York Times

The budget surplus has gone.

The Economist

Remember the budget surplus?

The New York Times

The federal government ran a budget surplus.

The New York Times

In 2000, America had a budget surplus.

The Economist

Germany is running a budget surplus.

Independent

A budget surplus is expected by 2012.

The New York Times

The state has a budget surplus now.

The New York Times

The use of the budget surplus.

The New York Times

How big is this year's budget surplus?

The New York Times

The budget surplus of the Clinton years was vanishing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a "budget surplus", be specific about the period (e.g., fiscal year) and the entity (e.g., federal government, state government) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't assume a "budget surplus" means all financial problems are solved; it simply indicates more revenue than expenses for a specific period, not necessarily the absence of long-term debt or liabilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "budget surplus" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to the amount by which a government's or organization's income exceeds its expenditure over a period of time. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "budget surplus" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase describing a financial situation where income exceeds expenses, commonly found in news, business, and academic contexts. When using "budget surplus", clarity and specificity are crucial. Remember to specify the relevant period and entity. Common errors include mistaking it for a balanced budget or assuming it solves all financial issues. Considering semantically related phrases like "fiscal surplus" or "revenue excess" can provide variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excess of income over expenditure

A formal and detailed way of describing the surplus.

surplus revenue

Explicitly states that the extra funds are from income.

fiscal excess

Focuses on the financial aspect of the surplus.

revenue excess

Highlights that the surplus is due to income.

excess funds

Refers to having more money than needed.

cash excess

Indicates an abundance of readily available money.

positive balance

General term indicating more income than expenses.

financial cushion

Implies a buffer or reserve of money.

funds remaining

Indicates money that is left over after expenses.

available capital

Emphasizes that the money can be used for investment.

FAQs

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

You can use "budget surplus" to describe a situation where a government or organization has more income than expenses, for example: "The country is enjoying a significant "budget surplus" this year thanks to increased tax revenues."

What's the difference between "budget surplus" and "balanced budget"?

A "budget surplus" means that revenues exceed expenditures, while a balanced budget means that revenues are equal to expenditures. Therefore, a surplus indicates a financial gain, while a balanced budget indicates financial equilibrium.

What are some related terms to "budget surplus"?

Related terms include "fiscal surplus", "revenue excess", or "positive balance", each highlighting a slightly different aspect of having more income than expenses.

What are the implications of a "budget surplus"?

A "budget surplus" can allow a government to reduce debt, invest in public services, or cut taxes. However, it can also lead to debates about how best to allocate the extra funds.