leaving a shortfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leaving a shortfall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where there is a deficit or lack of something, often in financial or resource-related discussions. Example: "The unexpected expenses from the project are leaving a shortfall in our budget for the next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Over four years $32m was returned to the Australia Council, still leaving a shortfall of $73m.

The Guardian

Together, the two appeals have received less than $1.6bn, leaving a shortfall of $2.8bn.

The Guardian

The UN drought appeal for Djibouti has raised $17.4m of a total of $33.3m needed, leaving a shortfall of $15.9m.

The Guardian

"Labour have announced measures that would bring about 13.1% of what they would need, leaving a shortfall of £44.1bn.

The Guardian

However, just over €500m (£350m) has been pledged since, leaving a shortfall of nearly €2.3bn on the sum required.

The Guardian

But the Pentagon has only enough money to buy 181, leaving a shortfall of about 200 aircraft.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The partners will contribute $400 million to $600 million, although that still leaves a shortfall.

The New York Times

That leaves a shortfall of about £7,819 on average, or £651 a month.

The Guardian - Money

The proposal would leave a shortfall that Barclays estimated at $15 or $16 billion, for which funding would have to be found.

The New Yorker

This leaves a shortfall of 72m tonnes, which would cost approximately $1bn, again assuming no reduction in price per tonne.

The Guardian

The engineering group estimates that the nation needs an investment of about $3.6 trillion by 2020, but that current levels of spending will leave a shortfall of $1.6 trillion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaving a shortfall", specify the magnitude of the shortfall to provide a clear understanding of the impact. For instance, "leaving a shortfall of $2 million".

Common error

Avoid using "leaving a shortfall" without quantifying the amount. Simply stating there is a shortfall without providing figures weakens the statement's impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaving a shortfall" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to describe the act of creating a deficit or deficiency. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, such as financial budgets and resource allocation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leaving a shortfall" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of creating a deficit or deficiency. Ludwig highlights its usage in diverse contexts, spanning from news and media to formal business and scientific domains. While versatile, it's crucial to quantify the shortfall for clarity and impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase effectively communicates the presence of a gap between requirements and available resources, prompting awareness and action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resulting in a deficit

Focuses on the outcome of a process creating a financial imbalance.

creating a gap

Highlights the formation of a disparity between what is needed and what is available.

generating a deficiency

Emphasizes the production of an inadequacy or lack.

leading to a shortage

Indicates that the action causes an insufficient quantity of something.

producing an imbalance

Focuses on the creation of disequilibrium, often financial.

causing an inadequacy

Highlights that the original action brings about something being insufficient.

establishing a void

Emphasizes the creation of empty space or area where something should be.

originating a scarcity

Indicates the start of a limited availability of a resource.

contributing to an undersupply

Focuses on the fact that something is being added to an already lacking supply.

fostering a paucity

Highlights that something is promoting a small quantity of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "leaving a shortfall" to describe situations where resources or funds are insufficient, as in "The budget cuts are "leaving a shortfall" in the education sector".

What's a good alternative to "leaving a shortfall"?

Alternatives include "resulting in a deficit", "creating a gap", or "generating a deficiency", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "leave a shortfall" or "leaving a shortfall"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Leave a shortfall" is an imperative or infinitive form, while "leaving a shortfall" is a gerund phrase, suitable when used as a subject or part of a continuous verb tense.

How does "leaving a shortfall" differ from "causing a shortage"?

"Leaving a shortfall" typically refers to a financial or resource deficit, while "causing a shortage" usually refers to an insufficient supply of a physical item or commodity.