cut expenses

USAGE SUMMARY

"cut expenses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to reducing or eliminating unnecessary or inefficient expenses. For example, "The company had to cut expenses in order to remain profitable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

* Cut expenses.

The New York Times

People say cut expenses.

The New York Times

For one, they cut expenses.

The New York Times

Cut expenses now.

The Washington Post

They have started to cut expenses, however.

The Economist

One response has been to cut expenses.

The New York Times

"But we cut expenses and redefined priorities".

The Guardian - Tech

"We cut expenses, but we don't grow," he said.

The New York Times

Butler supported ending school bus service to cut expenses.

The New York Times - Sports

Five months later he moved out to cut expenses.

The New Yorker

"But there's no question we have to cut expenses".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to reduce expenses, use "cut expenses" for a straightforward and easily understood directive.

Common error

Avoid only focusing on minor, easily reduced costs (like office supplies) while ignoring larger, more impactful expenses (like marketing budget or outsourcing costs). Prioritize expenses based on their impact on overall savings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cut expenses" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "cut" acts as a transitive verb and "expenses" serves as its direct object. It's frequently used in contexts where reducing spending is being discussed or directed, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

24%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cut expenses" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that means to reduce spending. According to Ludwig, it is applicable in various contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia. The phrase is generally considered to be neutral in register, making it suitable for diverse communication settings. When using the phrase, it's important to focus on impactful costs and avoid only addressing minor expenses. Alternatives such as "reduce expenditure" or "lower costs" can be used for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce expenditure

Focuses on the act of lessening spending, emphasizing a more formal tone.

lower costs

A simpler and more direct way to express the reduction of expenses.

trim spending

Suggests making small reductions across various areas of spending.

curtail outlays

Implies a more significant and decisive reduction in spending.

economize

Highlights the careful and efficient use of resources to save money.

tighten belts

Idiomatic expression indicating a need to spend less due to financial constraints.

streamline operations

Focuses on improving efficiency to reduce operational costs.

downsize operations

Suggests reducing the scale of business activities to save money.

rationalize expenses

Involves reorganizing and justifying expenses to achieve greater efficiency.

implement cost-saving measures

Highlights the proactive implementation of strategies aimed at reducing expenses.

FAQs

How can I use "cut expenses" in a sentence?

You can use "cut expenses" to advise reducing spending. For example, "The company needs to "cut expenses" to increase profitability."

What's a more formal way to say "cut expenses"?

Alternatives to "cut expenses" include "reduce expenditure" or "lower costs", which are suitable for business or academic contexts.

Which is correct, "cut expenses" or "cutting expenses"?

"Cut expenses" is often used as a directive or general statement, while "cutting expenses" is used as a continuous action. Both are correct depending on the intended meaning. For example, "The goal is to "cut expenses"" versus "Cutting expenses is crucial for survival."

What are some practical ways to "cut expenses" in a business?

Businesses can "cut expenses" by streamlining operations, reducing marketing spend, renegotiating contracts, or downsizing staff.