in debt

USAGE SUMMARY

"in debt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone who owes money and does not have the means to pay it back. For example: "After filing for bankruptcy, she found herself in debt for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

College left me in debt.

The Washington Post

In debt.

The New Yorker

Buried in debt?

The New York Times

Always deep in debt.

The New York Times

I'm in debt".

The New York Times - Sports

They are heavily in debt.

The New York Times - Sports

Ukraine is deeply in debt.

The New Yorker

"We are all in debt".

The New York Times

We were always in debt.

The Guardian

WBAI is awash in debt.

The New York Times

I had millions in debt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the extent of debt, quantify it whenever possible. For example, instead of saying "He is in debt", specify "He is $10,000 in debt" to provide a clearer picture of the financial situation.

Common error

Avoid confusing "in debt", which relates to financial obligations, with "in depth", which means thorough or detailed. For example, use "The company is heavily in debt" not "The company is heavily in depth".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in debt" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating the state of owing money. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and commonly used. For example, "She is in debt" shows it modifying the pronoun 'she'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in debt" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe owing money, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in news and media to report on financial situations, whether personal, corporate, or national. While generally neutral in tone, the term carries negative connotations related to financial burden. When writing about debt, provide specific figures for clarity and avoid confusing "in debt" with "in depth". Related phrases like "owing money" or "financially burdened" can add nuance depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heavily indebted

Emphasizes the large amount of debt one is carrying.

owing money

Focuses on the act of owing, highlighting the obligation aspect.

carrying debt

Highlights the ongoing burden of having unpaid obligations.

financially burdened

Emphasizes the negative impact and weight of the financial obligation.

under financial strain

Emphasizes the stress and difficulty caused by debt.

in arrears

Suggests being behind on payments, often used in a formal context.

overextended financially

Implies a situation where financial resources are stretched beyond capacity.

liable for

Focuses on the legal responsibility for a debt.

strapped for cash

Indicates a temporary lack of funds due to financial obligations.

facing insolvency

Suggests a severe financial crisis where one cannot meet their obligations.

FAQs

How can I use "in debt" in a sentence?

You can use "in debt" to describe owing money to a person or institution. For example: "After taking out a loan, she found herself significantly "in debt"".

What are some alternatives to saying "in debt"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "owing money", "financially burdened", or "heavily indebted" as alternatives to "in debt".

Is it correct to say "into debt" instead of "in debt"?

While "in debt" is the standard and more common usage, "into debt" can be used to describe the process of becoming indebted. For example: "His spending habits led him "into debt"".

What's the difference between "debt" and "deficit"?

"Debt" refers to the total amount of money owed, while "deficit" refers to the difference between income and expenses in a specific period (usually a year). Being "in debt" means owing money, while running a "deficit" means spending more than you earn in a given timeframe.