leaving a deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leaving a deficit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing financial situations, budgets, or resources where there is a shortfall or lack of funds. Example: "The unexpected expenses from the project are leaving a deficit in our budget that we need to address."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Last year, ticket income from the series was $65,000, leaving a deficit of $225,000.

The New York Times - Arts

It is expected to bring in $3.404 trillion in revenue during that time, leaving a deficit of $559 billion.

The Washington Post

According to the CBO, he showed, the federal government last year took in $2.15 trillion but spent $3.46 trillion, leaving a deficit of $1.31 trillion.

Princeton University

The parade's organization reported that it raised a total of about $460,000 in revenues in 2012, but spent over $620,000 on the parade and related activities, leaving a deficit of about $159,000.

The New York Times

The pension fund's assets come close to that, leaving a deficit of £109m.However, the regulator has insisted that more than half the purchase price must be used to safeguard the interests of the pension-scheme members.

The Economist

Plus 600 and plus 100 gave the Nickell team 12 imps on the board, leaving a deficit of 5, which was erased on the next board, the subject of Saturday's column.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

That leaves a deficit of twenty-nine votes.

The New Yorker

The fact is, this crisis has left a deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street.

University of California, Berkeley

That left a deficit of $44 billion in September, down from a revised $46.5 billion gap in August.

The New York Times

Even by Democratic estimates, the Senate plan would still leave a deficit of $566 billion in 2023, while adding $5.2 trillion to the federal debt over the next decade.

The New York Times

That left a deficit one percentage point bigger than the UK's, a marked change from the previous year when oil receipts left Scotland with a healthier fiscal balance than Britain as a whole.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaving a deficit", ensure the context clearly defines what is "leaving" the deficit (e.g., a specific action, period, or entity). This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming the reader understands the scope of the deficit. Always specify the area or account where the deficit is "left", such as "leaving a budget deficit" or "leaving a trade deficit".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaving a deficit" functions as a verb phrase acting as part of a clause, often describing the consequence of an action or situation. It indicates that a shortfall or negative balance remains after the completion of a process or event. Ludwig AI shows examples in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leaving a deficit" describes a situation where a shortfall or negative balance remains after a certain event or period. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used across various contexts, especially in news, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, make sure to clearly specify what action or situation is causing the deficit to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives such as "creating a shortfall" or "resulting in a loss" exist, the original phrase remains a direct and effective way to communicate a financial imbalance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

creating a shortfall

Focuses on the creation of the deficit, rather than the act of leaving it behind.

resulting in a loss

Highlights the negative financial outcome or loss incurred.

generating a negative balance

Emphasizes the generation of a negative financial state.

producing a deficiency

Stresses the lack of sufficient resources or funds.

yielding a shortfall

Indicates that the outcome or yield is less than expected.

incurring a debit

Highlights the action of taking on a debit or financial obligation.

accumulating debt

Focuses on the accumulation of financial debt over time.

running a negative balance

Describes the state of operating with a negative financial balance.

ending with a negative balance

Focuses on the end result of a negative financial state.

contributing to the red

Uses a common idiom to indicate financial losses or debt.

FAQs

What does "leaving a deficit" mean?

The phrase "leaving a deficit" means that after a certain period, transaction, or event, there is a shortfall of funds or resources. It implies that more was spent or used than was available, resulting in a negative balance.

How can I use "leaving a deficit" in a sentence?

You can use "leaving a deficit" in sentences such as: "The company's overspending is "leaving a deficit" in the annual budget," or "The project's cost overruns are "leaving a deficit" that needs to be addressed."

What are some alternatives to "leaving a deficit"?

Some alternatives to "leaving a deficit" include phrases like "creating a shortfall", "resulting in a loss", or "generating a negative balance". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "leaves a deficit" instead of "leaving a deficit"?

Yes, both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different uses. "Leaves a deficit" is for a singular subject performing the action, while "leaving a deficit" is often used in continuous tenses or as part of a gerund phrase. For example: "The project leaves a deficit" versus "The project is "leaving a deficit"."