make a loss

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a loss" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a situation in which a person, business, or organization has a financial loss as the result of a transaction. For example, "The company made a loss in the last quarter of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We will make a loss, but profit isn't a priority.

The Guardian - Sport

If you cut large sizes you may make a loss".

The Guardian

We would make a loss if we signed".

The Guardian

Unlike traditional accounts it is possible to make a loss.

The Guardian - Money

It is expected to make a loss in 2015.

The Guardian - Business

"We make a loss and corporation taxes are paid on profits not revenues.

The Guardian - Tech

Banks that make a loss would not be allowed to pay discretionary bonuses Total transparency.

The Guardian

They not only love to own rental property, they love to make a loss on it.

The Guardian - Business

The titles currently make a loss estimated at £10m a year.

The Guardian

You get your accountant phoning to say you're going to make a loss this year.

The Guardian - Music

"Before I arrived we used to make a loss each year.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial performance, use "make a loss" to clearly indicate that expenses exceeded revenues during a specific period.

Common error

Avoid using "make a loss" interchangeably with bankruptcy or insolvency. Making a loss refers to a specific period's financial outcome, while bankruptcy implies a more severe and potentially irreversible financial state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a loss" functions as a verbal phrase in sentences, typically indicating the financial outcome of a business, project, or entity. It describes a state where expenses exceed revenues, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a loss" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a situation where expenses exceed income, resulting in a financial deficit. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, business, and science. The analysis reveals that while simpler alternatives like "lose money" exist, "make a loss" provides a more formal and descriptive way to communicate financial underperformance. The register is neutral, making it suitable for both professional and general communication. The frequency of occurrence across authoritative sources like The Guardian, The Economist, and BBC further underscores its validity and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lose money

Simplifies the phrase to a more basic expression of financial loss.

record a loss

Focuses on the formal recording of the financial loss in accounts.

incur a loss

Replaces "make" with "incur", emphasizing the act of experiencing a loss.

suffer a loss

Similar to "incur a loss", but with a stronger connotation of hardship.

experience a loss

More descriptive, emphasizing the direct experience of the loss.

operate at a deficit

Focuses on the state of operating with expenses exceeding income.

be in the red

An idiomatic expression indicating financial losses or debt.

fail to profit

Emphasizes the absence of profit rather than the presence of loss.

endure a financial setback

Highlights the challenging aspect of the financial loss.

underperform financially

Highlights the substandard financial results without explicitly mentioning a loss.

FAQs

How to use "make a loss" in a sentence?

You can use "make a loss" to describe a business or organization's financial performance, such as "The company will "make a loss" this year due to increased operating costs".

What can I say instead of "make a loss"?

You can use alternatives like "incur a loss", "suffer a loss", or "operate at a deficit depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "made a lost" instead of "make a loss"?

No, "made a lost" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""make a loss"", where "loss" is a noun indicating a financial deficit.

What's the difference between ""make a loss"" and "break even"?

"Make a loss" means that expenses exceeded revenues, resulting in a financial deficit. "Break even", on the other hand, means that revenues equaled expenses, resulting in neither a profit nor a loss.