national deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "national deficit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the financial situation of a country, specifically referring to the amount by which a government's expenditures exceed its revenues. Example: "The national deficit has reached an all-time high, prompting discussions about potential budget cuts and tax reforms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's less than the national deficit.

The Economist

Gives the history of the national deficit from Roosevelt on.

The New Yorker

Sounds like a hole the size of the national deficit.

The New York Times - Sports

This year's national deficit target of 4.4% assumes growth of 2.3%.

The Economist

Damian Hinds, the Treasury minister, said the move was essential to help reduce the national deficit.

Independent

Afterward, he joked that he could now increase the national deficit.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Down the line, dealing with the national deficit should involve a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts, according to 90% of respondents.

Los Angeles Times

Although these cuts would significantly reduce the national deficit, they would potentially revert America into a recession.

Huffington Post

Consider it the social-media equivalent of that national-deficit "clock" in Times Square.

MIT Technology Review

George W. Bush, Kerry touted plans to reduce joblessness and the national deficit, increase access to health care, and roll back Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr Osborne has been unveiling £11.5bn of cuts in a statement to the Commons, to help reduce the national deficit.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the "national deficit", be specific about the time frame (e.g., fiscal year) and the entity responsible (e.g., federal government) for clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "national deficit" and national debt interchangeably. The deficit is the annual shortfall, while the debt is the accumulation of past deficits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "national deficit" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific economic condition, referring to the amount by which a nation's government spending exceeds its revenue in a particular period. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts discussing economic policy and financial concerns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "national deficit" is a very common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the financial condition where a nation's government spending surpasses its revenue. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to inform and analyze economic situations. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase accurately conveys the concept of a nation's financial shortfall, and its usage is consistent across various contexts. The register is generally neutral, leaning towards formal. Remember to distinguish it from related concepts like "national debt", and to specify the time frame when using it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

government deficit

Replaces "national" with "government", focusing on the governing body responsible for the deficit.

budget deficit

Substitutes "national" with "budget", emphasizing the shortfall in the budget.

fiscal deficit

Replaces "national" with "fiscal", highlighting the financial aspect of the deficit.

public debt

Shifts the focus from the annual shortfall to the total accumulated debt.

government debt

Similar to public debt, but specifies the debt held by the government.

revenue shortfall

Focuses on the lack of sufficient income to cover expenses.

spending gap

Highlights the difference between expenditures and income.

economic shortfall

Broadens the concept to encompass the overall economic deficiency.

excess of expenditure over income

More formal and descriptive, emphasizing the imbalance between spending and revenue.

negative balance of payments

Refers to the deficit in the context of international trade and finance.

FAQs

How is the term "national deficit" commonly used in a sentence?

The phrase "national deficit" is typically used to describe the amount by which a country's government spending exceeds its income in a given year. For instance: "The rising "national deficit" is a cause for concern among economists."

What's the difference between "national deficit" and "national debt"?

The "national deficit" is the yearly difference between government spending and revenue. The "national debt" is the accumulation of all past deficits minus surpluses.

Is it appropriate to use "national deficit" in formal writing?

Yes, "national deficit" is suitable for formal writing, especially in economics, finance, and political science. It's a standard term when discussing government finances.

What are some alternative ways to refer to the "national deficit"?

You can use terms like "budget deficit", "fiscal deficit", or "government deficit" as alternatives to "national deficit", depending on the context.