cover the shortfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cover the shortfall" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is typically used when discussing a financial or budget issue, and it means to use other funds to make up for any shortages or deficits. For example: "The company had to dip into its emergency reserves to cover the shortfall caused by the recession."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

It will be very hard to cover the shortfall".

The New York Times

Will planned council tax increases cover the shortfall?

The Guardian

PanAmericano's controlling shareholder, Grupo Silvio Santos, agreed to cover the shortfall in the bank's accounts.

The Economist

Amassing the liquid assets to cover the shortfall adds a cost to the brokerage business.

The New York Times

It said the government needed $10 billion in 2015 to cover the shortfall.

The New York Times

Met Council secured him a grant from the fund to cover the shortfall.

The New York Times

But that would barely cover the shortfall already recorded this year in real estate taxes.

The New York Times

A $100 million reserve fund was included in the debt package to cover the shortfall.

The New York Times

But when things get really bad, the federal government steps in to cover the shortfall, as it did in 2009.

The Economist

They have jobs, make their mortgage payments on time, but cannot raise enough cash to cover the shortfall.

The New York Times

Perkins explained that as the number of retirees rose, funds from the Treasury would have to cover the shortfall.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budgets, funding, or resources, use "cover the shortfall" to clearly indicate the action of compensating for a deficiency in funds or supplies. For example, "The grant will help to cover the shortfall in research funding."

Common error

Avoid using "cover the shortfall" when the situation involves completely eliminating the deficiency, rather than just compensating for it. Instead, use phrases like "eliminate the deficit" or "resolve the shortage."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cover the shortfall" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate in a sentence. It describes the action of compensating for a deficiency or making up for a deficit. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in financial, resource, and staffing contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Formal & Business

34%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cover the shortfall" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes the action of compensating for a deficiency or deficit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and applicable in various writing contexts. Primarily found in News & Media and Formal & Business sources, the phrase maintains a professional tone and explains how deficiencies are addressed. While there are alternatives like "make up the difference" or "offset the deficit", understanding the specific context is crucial for effective communication. It's important to note that the phrase implies compensation, not complete elimination, of the deficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make up the difference

Focuses on compensating for a difference rather than a shortfall, implying a specific target or goal.

bridge the gap

Emphasizes the act of connecting two disparate points or amounts, often used in a more abstract sense.

offset the deficit

More specific to financial contexts, highlighting the balancing of a negative amount.

compensate for the lack

Broader in scope, addressing any type of deficiency rather than specifically a shortfall.

remedy the deficiency

Implies correcting or fixing an inadequacy, often used in formal or technical contexts.

fill the void

More figurative, suggesting the act of completing something that is missing or incomplete.

counterbalance the inadequacy

Highlights the balancing effect against something that is insufficient or lacking.

ameliorate the shortage

Focuses on improving a condition of scarcity or insufficient supply.

address the insufficiency

More formal, suggesting a direct approach to resolving a state of being inadequate.

rectify the inadequacy

Suggests correcting or setting right something that is deficient or not up to par.

FAQs

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

You can use "cover the shortfall" to describe how a deficit or lack is being compensated for. For example, "The government used reserve funds to cover the shortfall in tax revenue."

What's a more formal alternative to "cover the shortfall"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "offset the deficit" or "remedy the deficiency", which are often used in business or technical contexts.

Is it appropriate to use "cover the shortfall" in informal conversation?

Yes, "cover the shortfall" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. However, simpler alternatives like "make up the difference" might be preferred in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "cover the shortfall" and "eliminate the deficit"?

"Cover the shortfall" implies compensating for a lack, while "eliminate the deficit" means completely removing the deficit. The former suggests a temporary fix, while the latter indicates a more permanent solution.