exceed plan

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase 'exceed plan' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is done at a higher level or rate than expected or required. For example, "The sales team exceeded their plan for the quarter, achieving a 10% increase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One of the company's business plans said that its "legal efforts are starting to bear fruit and rent prices continue to exceed plan, all contributing to what should be a strong year to come".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Projects tend to exceed planned timelines and budgets.

Business Research

Why are defense operations continuing to exceed planned levels?

Forbes

In a culture where exceeding plan by 2% was seen as a win, he had just delivered 150% of his revenue target.

Harvard Business Review

Our sales exceeded plan from the first year, and over the next four years we expanded to several more sites in the city.

Harvard Business Review

Sales of Lay's regional flavored potato chips — honey mustard in the Northeast, say, or balsamic sweet onion in the Northwest — "exceeded plan by 150 percent," he said proudly.

The New York Times

When planned saving exceeds planned investment, income will be falling.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When planned investment exceeds planned saving, income will be rising.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This judgment confirms where limit values are exceeded, plans must be developed which ensure compliance in the shortest possible time," said a Defra spokeswoman.

The Guardian

The agility of cloud gives enterprises the flexibility to adjust when real-world data growth exceeds planning assumptions made years earlier.

Forbes

It says online revenue exceeded plans every month during its 15-month flirtation with e-commerce, but the company pulled the plug in January 2000 because the site was "unaffordable".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exceed plan", ensure the context clearly defines what "plan" refers to, whether it's a budget, sales target, or project timeline. This prevents ambiguity and ensures your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "exceed plan" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically sound, consider more precise or nuanced alternatives like "surpass expectations" or "outperform projections" for enhanced clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceed plan" functions as a verb phrase where "exceed" acts as the main verb and "plan" functions as the direct object. This indicates an action of surpassing or going beyond a defined plan or target. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and used to indicate something is done at a higher level or rate than expected.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exceed plan" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for describing the act of surpassing a pre-established target or expectation. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and indicates something done at a higher level. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, business, and science, making it a versatile term. While generally appropriate, its overuse in highly formal contexts should be avoided. Related phrases like "surpass the plan" or "outperform the plan" can offer nuanced alternatives. Understanding its function and purpose allows for more effective communication in diverse settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass the plan

Replaces "exceed" with "surpass", indicating a movement beyond the plan's limits.

outperform the plan

Emphasizes superior performance relative to the plan.

beat the plan

A more informal way to express exceeding the plan, suggesting a competitive aspect.

go beyond the plan

Indicates extending efforts or results further than what was initially planned.

overachieve the plan

Highlights the achievement aspect, implying exceeding the plan by a significant margin.

top the plan

Suggests reaching a higher level of performance than the plan intended.

better the plan

Focuses on improving upon the plan's expected outcomes.

outstrip the plan

Implies a more significant exceeding of the plan, suggesting a large difference in outcome.

eclipse the plan

Suggests overshadowing the original plan with superior results.

rise above the plan

Conveys exceeding the plan as an overcoming of limitations or expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "exceed plan" in a sentence?

You can use "exceed plan" to describe situations where performance surpasses expectations. For instance, "The marketing team's efforts allowed them to "surpass the plan" by 15%".

What are some alternatives to "exceed plan"?

Some alternatives include "outperform the plan", "surpass the plan", or "beat the plan", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is more appropriate: "exceed plan" or "exceed planned"?

"Exceed plan" is generally used when referring to surpassing a set target or expectation. "Exceed planned" is less common but can work when explicitly referring to exceeding something that was previously planned, such as a budget.

What does it mean when a team "exceeds the plan"?

When a team "exceeds the plan", it means they have performed better than what was initially expected or targeted in their outlined plan. This could involve achieving higher sales, completing a project faster, or any other measurable outcome.