making break-even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making break-even" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to achieving a break-even point in a financial context, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The company is focused on making break-even this quarter to ensure financial stability."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As competition from bricks-and-mortar firms intensifies, making break-even points ever more distant, the future looks gloomy for Britain's new breed of entrepreneurs.Nina Brink, former chairman of a Dutch Internet service provider, World Online, admitted links with five failed companies which had not been mentioned in a prospectus for World Online's initial public offering in March.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But several factors, many beyond the government's control, may make breaking even difficult.

The New York Times

We would much rather stick with the trading methods that got us this far and continue to keep us in the green during a time when many traders and investors are struggling to make break even.

Forbes

Digital viewing platforms, such as video-on-demand, Netflix, iTunes and other streaming services, provide new sources of revenue for documentaries, making the break-even point or profitability more attainable (and difficult to reach just on what a TV outlet will pay).

Los Angeles Times

"There will be sanctions imposed if people don't make the break-even point within the time specified by the League.

BBC

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL - 8 Could still make breaks, despite even tighter marking that peaked with one huge hit from Nathan Grey.

The Guardian - Sport

The laser and the targets were made; fusion "break-even", however, was not.

The Economist

Calculations were made to estimate break-even points for each SRH outcome.

BMC Health Services Research

"Because the rates of decline are relatively low at 2 to 5percentt, you don't have to add many birds back into the population to make it break even," he said.

The New York Times

And it's a great way to make your breaks even more productive.

Huffington Post

Why has it been difficult to make money or even break-even despite such remarkably high repayment rates?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial performance, use established phrases like "achieving break-even" or "reaching the break-even point" for clarity and professionalism. Avoid using "making break-even" as it is grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid the error of using the continuous form "making" with "break-even". "Break-even" is a state that is reached or achieved, not continuously made. Use "achieving break-even" or "reaching the break-even point" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making break-even" attempts to describe an action related to achieving a financial state. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrasing is grammatically incorrect and unclear. It is more appropriate to use phrases like "achieving break-even" or "reaching break-even".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making break-even" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing or speech. While the intention might be to describe the process of a company trying to reach its break-even point, it is better to use phrases like "achieving break-even" or "reaching the break-even point". According to Ludwig AI, the non-standard phrasing lacks clarity. Always opt for established financial terms to ensure clear and professional communication. "Making break-even" is rarely used, and more established phrases are preferred. Established news outlets like The New York Times, Forbes and The Guardian, discuss achieving break-even points. Therefore, when discussing financial equilibrium, stick to grammatically sound and professionally recognized alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Achieving break-even

Focuses on the act of successfully reaching the point where costs and revenues are equal, replacing the continuous "making" with the completed "achieving".

Reaching the break-even point

Specifies that the state of equilibrium is a destination, changing the verb and adding the word "point" for emphasis.

Breaking even

Emphasizes the state of neither making a profit nor a loss, simplifying the action to a single verb.

Attaining profitability

Shifts the focus slightly to achieving a profitable state, rather than just avoiding losses.

Becoming profitable

Similar to attaining profitability, but uses a different verb to emphasize the transition to a profitable state.

Covering costs

Highlights the action of ensuring that all expenses are paid, indirectly implying a break-even scenario.

Offsetting expenses

Similar to covering costs, this phrase focuses on counterbalancing expenditures.

Balancing the budget

Broadens the context to managing an entire budget so that income and expenditure are equal.

Operating at equilibrium

Uses more formal language to describe a state of balance between income and expenses.

Avoiding losses

Focuses specifically on preventing financial losses, which is a prerequisite for breaking even.

FAQs

What does "break-even" mean in business?

"Break-even" refers to the point at which total costs and total revenue are equal, meaning there is no profit or loss. It's a critical metric for businesses to understand their financial health.

How can I use "break-even" in a sentence?

You can say "The company needs to sell 1000 units to "break even"" or "Our goal is to "reach the break-even point" by the end of the year."

Is it correct to say "making break-even"?

No, "making break-even" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "achieving break-even" or "reaching break-even".

What are some strategies for a company to break even faster?

Strategies include reducing costs, increasing sales volume, or raising prices. The specific approach depends on the company's business model and market conditions.