lost sales

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost sales" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to sales that have been lost due to an event, decision, or other factor. For example, "The new pricing policy resulted in lost sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They lost sales.

The New York Times

Has it lost sales?

The New York Times

Overextended, Pret lost sales and closed stores.

The New York Times

As lost sales may lead to customers not returning, the demand rate may depend on the fraction of lost sales.

International Journal of Production Economics

Misplaced products obviously lead to lost sales.

Harvard Business Review

No computers will mean lost sales.

The New York Times

Has an author lost sales or contracts?

The Guardian

Plenty of smaller publishers also lost sales.

The Guardian

It saves money, red tape, worry and lost sales.

The New York Times - Tech

Zyprexa has helped Lilly recover some of those lost sales.

The New York Times

I've grown tired of industry whining about lost sales.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of a specific event (like a product recall or a store closure), quantify the "lost sales" with an estimated dollar amount to provide a clearer understanding of the financial consequences.

Common error

Avoid attributing all "lost sales" to a single factor without thorough analysis. Multiple variables, such as competitor actions, market trends, and internal inefficiencies, can contribute to decreased sales figures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost sales" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, referring to revenue that a business has failed to generate. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lost sales" is a common and grammatically sound term used to describe missed revenue opportunities. As Ludwig AI validates, it is appropriate for various contexts, from formal business analysis to general news reporting. The phrase functions as a noun phrase, typically describing the financial impact of missed sales opportunities. Common causes of "lost sales" include stockouts, poor product placement, and ineffective marketing. When discussing "lost sales", it is beneficial to quantify the amount to provide a clearer understanding of the financial consequences. Be careful not to attribute all "lost sales" to a single factor without a comprehensive analysis, as multiple variables can contribute to decreased sales. "Lost sales" is a key concept in understanding business performance and identifying areas for improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

missed revenue

Focuses on the financial impact of not making a sale.

unrealized sales

Highlights the fact that the sales were possible but did not occur.

forgone income

Emphasizes the opportunity cost associated with the sales not materializing.

decreased revenue

Highlights a drop in the total revenue as a consequence of missed sales.

reduced turnover

Indicates a lower volume of sales compared to previous periods.

slump in sales

Describes a sudden and significant decline in sales performance.

sales shortfall

Indicates that the actual sales are below the expected or targeted level.

revenue deficit

Highlights a financial shortfall due to sales being lower than anticipated.

sales decline

Focuses on the trend of sales decreasing over a period.

erosion of sales

Describes a gradual loss of sales volume over time.

FAQs

How can I use "lost sales" in a sentence?

You can use "lost sales" to describe a situation where a business has missed out on potential revenue. For example, "The product recall led to significant "lost sales" this quarter".

What are some synonyms for "lost sales"?

Synonyms for "lost sales" include "missed revenue", "unrealized sales", or "forgone income", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "lost sales" and "decreased sales"?

"Lost sales" refers to sales that were potentially achievable but didn't happen due to specific circumstances like stockouts. "Decreased sales"/"sales decline", on the other hand, refers to a general reduction in sales volume over a period.

What factors can contribute to "lost sales"?

Several factors can cause "lost sales", including poor product placement, stockouts, negative reviews, ineffective marketing, and "slow website" loading times.