closing the shortfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closing the shortfall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to finance, budgeting, or project management when discussing the act of addressing or eliminating a deficit or gap in resources or funding. Example: "The company is implementing new strategies aimed at closing the shortfall in its annual budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And yet, in the deficit-obsessed, anti-tax world of Washington, closing the shortfall in Social Security has come to mean broadly cutting benefits.

The New York Times

Closing the shortfall by the June 30 deadline is likely to require unpopular actions, including spending cuts and higher taxes, in a state where property taxes are already the highest in the nation.

The New York Times

The company, which saw revenues and profits rise 22% in the last year to £1.9bn and £147m respectively, said it had agreed with trustees to spend the next 20 years closing the shortfall in its pension fund.

The Guardian - Business

This should push up its eventual value to long-term savers by something like a quarter.The national savings plan will generate extra resources of 0.7% of GDP for pensioners by 2050, so closing the shortfall when combined with the higher state-pension age and increased public spending.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The government tries to close the shortfall by simply issuing more Treasury securities each year, thereby adding to the nation's debt.

The New York Times

It would not completely close the shortfall of the trust funds, but it would put Social Security and Medicare on a stronger financial footing, while reaffirming their universal nature and reflecting the fortunate fact that Americans are living longer.

The New York Times

Others worry that the governor's plan to use the tobacco settlement money to close the shortfall might jeopardize the state's commitment in the future to other priorities covered by H.C.R.A., like raising salaries for hospital workers.

The New York Times

Senator George Allen and Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for governor in 2005, have blasted the Senate plan, arguing that revenues are growing fast enough to close the shortfall.

The New York Times

While some have doubted the sincerity of energy-intensive businesses in particular in tackling climate change, Unilever CEO Paul Polman suggests the private sector could help close the shortfall in emission commitments made by governments.

The Guardian

Democratic leaders who control both houses of the state's General Assembly ridiculed the governor's plan as unnecessary in light of federal money, among other sources, that Connecticut could use to close the shortfall.

The New York Times

It is now tapping board members, donors, and artists across the country to help raise $340,000 by the end of the year so it can close the shortfall and produce "Spunk," George C. Wolfe's adaptation of stories by Zora Neale Hurston next March, its lone offering for the season.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "closing the shortfall", ensure the context clearly defines what specific deficit or gap is being addressed to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "closing the shortfall" without specifying what the shortfall pertains to. For example, clarify if it's a budget, funding, or resource shortfall.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closing the shortfall" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the act of eliminating a deficit or deficiency, especially in financial contexts. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

40%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closing the shortfall" is a gerund phrase used to describe the act of eliminating a deficit, particularly in financial and budgetary contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While its frequency is rare, it's commonly found in news and business environments. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the type of shortfall you're addressing. Alternatives include "bridging the gap" and "eliminating the deficit".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

addressing the deficit

Focuses on dealing with the deficit problem.

eliminating the deficit

Directly addresses the removal of a negative balance or deficiency.

covering the deficit

Focuses on providing sufficient funds to balance a negative amount.

bridging the gap

Emphasizes connecting two points to overcome a difference or deficiency.

making up the difference

Implies compensating for what is lacking to reach a desired level.

rectifying the deficiency

Highlights correcting or making right something that is lacking.

offsetting the difference

Stresses the balancing out of a disparity or imbalance.

resolving the imbalance

Addresses the act of fixing a state of disproportion.

correcting the imbalance

Focuses on fixing a state of disproportion.

rectifying the imbalance

Highlights correcting or making right a state of disproportion.

FAQs

What does "closing the shortfall" mean?

It means eliminating a deficit or deficiency, usually in financial or budgetary contexts. It implies taking actions to ensure that resources meet or exceed requirements, thereby resolving an imbalance.

How can I use "closing the shortfall" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company is implementing new strategies aimed at "closing the shortfall" in its annual budget", or "Additional fundraising efforts are crucial for "closing the shortfall" in project funding".

What are some alternatives to "closing the shortfall"?

You can use alternatives like "bridging the gap", "eliminating the deficit", or "addressing the deficit" depending on the context.

In what contexts is "closing the shortfall" most commonly used?

"Closing the shortfall" is often found in business, finance, and project management contexts, referring to balancing budgets, securing funds, or meeting resource needs. News and media also frequently use it when reporting on economic or budgetary issues.