mortgage interest

USAGE SUMMARY

'mortgage interest' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to refer to the interest paid on a loan taken to purchase a property. For example: "The homeowner was struggling to make his mortgage interest payments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Consider the deduction for mortgage interest.

The New York Times

Tax deductions on mortgage interest should go.

The Economist

Mortgage interest is a common one.

The New York Times

Miller stopped claiming for mortgage interest altogether.

The Guardian

Tax reformers have long eyed the mortgage interest deduction.

The New York Times

Not surprisingly, the mortgage interest deduction is very popular.

The New York Times

Do you claim the home mortgage interest deduction?

The New York Times

Some, like the mortgage interest deduction, are wildly popular.

The New York Times

However, deductions for charitable gift and mortgage interest are allowed.

The New York Times

But not everyone benefits from the mortgage interest tax perk.

The New York Times

Is it tenable to maintain the mortgage interest deduction?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing tax deductions, clearly specify whether you're referring to the deduction of "mortgage interest" payments.

Common error

Don't assume that all your mortgage payments are tax-deductible. Only the "mortgage interest" portion is deductible, not the principal amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mortgage interest" functions primarily as a noun phrase, identifying a specific type of financial expense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard term referring to the interest paid on a home loan. Examples show it in contexts related to tax deductions, expenses, and financial planning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "mortgage interest" is a very common noun phrase that refers to the interest paid on a home loan. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English. As shown by Ludwig's examples, the phrase is frequently used in news articles, financial advice, and tax-related discussions. It's grammatically correct and generally carries a neutral tone, though the register can shift towards professional or formal depending on the context. When writing about "mortgage interest", it's crucial to differentiate it from the mortgage principal and to specify its role in tax deductions. Related phrases include "home loan interest" and "interest on mortgage", which offer slight variations in emphasis while retaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

home loan interest

Replaces "mortgage" with "home loan", emphasizing the purpose of the loan.

interest on mortgage

Inverts the word order, slightly altering the emphasis but retaining the core meaning.

mortgage rate

Focuses specifically on the rate of interest applied to the mortgage.

home financing interest

Uses broader terms like "financing" instead of "mortgage", generalizing the concept.

interest accrued on mortgage

Adds the detail of "accrued" to emphasize the accumulation of interest over time.

mortgage borrowing costs

Replaces "interest" with a more general term, "borrowing costs", indicating the overall expenses.

cost of mortgage

Simplifies the phrase to highlight the financial expense associated with the mortgage.

charge for mortgage

Rephrases the phrase to highlight a charge for using mortgage

interest expenses on mortgage

Adds the word "expenses" to be very specific about what the interest is used for

interest component of mortgage

Specifies that the mortgage interest refers to just a single element

FAQs

How is "mortgage interest" used in tax contexts?

"Mortgage interest" is often mentioned when discussing tax deductions for homeowners. It refers to the amount of interest paid on a mortgage loan that can be deducted from taxable income, potentially lowering the overall tax liability.

What's the difference between "mortgage interest" and the mortgage principal?

"Mortgage interest" is the cost of borrowing money to buy a home, while the mortgage principal is the actual amount of money borrowed. When you make a mortgage payment, part of it goes toward paying off the principal, and part goes toward paying the "mortgage interest".

Is "mortgage interest" tax-deductible?

Yes, in many countries, "mortgage interest" is tax-deductible, which means you can subtract the amount of interest you paid on your mortgage from your taxable income. However, there may be limits on the amount you can deduct, depending on your location and the size of your mortgage.

Are there alternatives to the "mortgage interest" deduction?

Some proposals suggest replacing the "mortgage interest" deduction with a tax credit, which could provide more equitable benefits across different income levels. Others propose limiting the deduction to reduce its impact on government revenue.