more than offset

USAGE SUMMARY

"more than offset" is correct and is often used in written English.
It is usually used in the context of one thing being greater than another. For example: "The increase in sales more than offset the costs of the marketing campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Supersaver discount fares more than offset the surcharges.

The New York Times

This can more than offset Premier League inflation.

The Guardian - Business

The savings can more than offset the trip's expense.

The New York Times

But, he said, increased sales more than offset the cost.

The New York Times

However, this has been more than offset by the gains.

The Economist

markets more than offset slight sales declines in the Americas.

The New York Times

But that's more than offset by cuts elsewhere.

The Washington Post

The SP more than offset the effects of RCA incorporation on the concrete mixes.

Construction and Building Materials

Because their losses more than offset their gains, they could avoid capital-gains tax.

The New York Times

This element of misfortune, though, was more than offset by glaring deficiencies at the opposite end.

The Guardian - Sport

It would also more than offset the growth in energy use that would be expected otherwise.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more than offset" to clearly indicate that a positive effect is greater than a negative one. For example: "The benefits of the new policy more than offset the initial costs."

Common error

Avoid using "more than offset" when the positive effect only slightly mitigates the negative one; ensure there is a substantial difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than offset" functions as a verb phrase. It is used to indicate that one effect is greater and more significant than another, effectively negating or surpassing its impact. Ludwig examples confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more than offset" is a widely used verb phrase that clearly communicates that a positive effect outweighs a negative one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and prevalent in news, science, and business contexts. When writing, remember to use this phrase when the benefit is truly greater than the drawback. For alternatives, consider "outweigh", "compensate for", or "make up for" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outweigh

Focuses on the significance or impact being greater.

compensate for

Emphasizes making up for something lacking or deficient.

make up for

Similar to compensate, but often implies a restoration of balance.

counterbalance

Highlights the act of opposing or balancing a force or effect.

negate

Indicates the cancellation or nullification of something.

override

Suggests a higher authority or power taking precedence.

cancel out

Implies that two opposing forces or effects eliminate each other.

neutralize

Focuses on rendering something ineffective or harmless.

exceed

Emphasizes surpassing a certain limit or expectation.

surpass

Similar to exceed, but often suggests a higher level of achievement.

FAQs

How can I use "more than offset" in a sentence?

Use "more than offset" to show that a positive effect is greater than a negative one. For example, "The increased productivity "more than offset" the cost of the new software".

What are some alternatives to "more than offset"?

You can use alternatives like "outweigh", "compensate for", or "make up for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'offset more than' instead of "more than offset"?

While 'offset more than' might be understandable in some contexts, ""more than offset"" is the standard and grammatically preferred construction.

What is the difference between "more than offset" and "compensated for"?

"More than offset" implies that the positive effect not only covers but exceeds the negative one. "Compensated for" suggests a balancing effect, where the positive effect equals the negative one, but doesn't necessarily surpass it.