notional budget

USAGE SUMMARY

"notional budget" is a correct and usable term in written English.
It is often used to refer to a budget that is estimated or hypothetical, rather than actual or real. For example, "The company was able to come up with a notional budget in order to plan for the upcoming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But if Athens can fix its finances enough to run a notional budget surplus without debt payments, then economists can calculate how much debt it can actually afford to pay, and restructure the rest.

The New York Times

The new ministry of cities is losing 85% of its notional budget; that of the ministry of "national integration", whose brief includes helping drought victims, is to fall by 90%.These changes carry some political risk.

The Economist

Mr Musk's notional budget is around $6 billion, less than a tenth of what the high-speed train is supposed to cost.Vac-trains, as first described in the 1910s by Robert Goddard (better known as a pioneer of rocketry), would send rolling stock (or hovering stock, perhaps) hurtling through hermetically sealed tubes from which the air has been evacuated.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It is not yet clear if clinical commissioning groups themselves would allocate hard rather than notional budgets to each constituent practice.

British Medical Journal

To reduce this risk, practice budgets for commissioning have been effectively pooled for all general practices within the geographical boundary of the primary care trust level (covering approximately 300 000 population), so the trust would each year underwrite financial losses and gains for practices against their notional budgets.

British Medical Journal

The report of the joint committee on the draft care and support bill points out that the increase in people being assessed for a personal budget or notional care account "is likely to lead to an increase in disputes and legal challenges", and accordingly recommends establishing a care and support tribunal to provide independent review decisions.

The Guardian

Labour do not plan to repeat this blunderbuss approach of real cuts to departmental budgets based on notional efficiency savings.

The Guardian

For example, the practice budgets are in most instances "notional" (where the primary care trusts largely bear the financial risk of overspending) and not "hard" (where the practices would bear most of the financial risk).

British Medical Journal

George W. Bush and John McCain seemed to be neck-and-neck in South Carolina, the next primary state.See article: How McCain does itPresident Bill Clinton sent Congress a $1.84 trillion budget for fiscal 2001, proposing to use the (still notional) surpluses to expand health care, pay off the national debt and increase spending on defence.

The Economist

The weekday set lunch, £6.99 for two courses, is a boon for the budget traveller, but, if there's a few of you, using your notional £10-a-head to share a selection of small dishes from the street food menu might be the more adventurous way to go.

The Guardian - Travel

It is now just 18 months until all those eligible should have their own budget, whether taken in the form of a direct payment or simply allocated in notional form on paper.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "notional budget", clarify that the figures are estimates and may not reflect actual financial outcomes. This prevents misunderstanding and sets appropriate expectations.

Common error

Avoid treating a "notional budget" as a definitive financial plan. Always distinguish it from approved or actual budgets to prevent overspending or misallocation of resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "notional budget" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject or object within a sentence. It identifies a specific type of budget that is based on estimates or projections rather than actual figures. Ludwig AI examples show its use in discussing financial planning and resource allocation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "notional budget" refers to a tentative financial plan based on estimations rather than actual figures. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct, though its use is relatively rare. It's primarily employed in news, scientific, and formal business contexts to describe budgets that are subject to change. When using this phrase, clarity is key: always emphasize that the figures are estimates to avoid confusion. Synonyms include "hypothetical budget" and "projected budget". The source quality for "notional budget" is relatively high, stemming from authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hypothetical budget

Highlights the conditional and theoretical nature of the budget.

theoretical budget

Stresses the budget's basis in theory rather than practical application.

conceptual budget

Focuses on the conceptual aspect of the budget, as an idea.

estimated budget

Focuses on the process of estimating the budget rather than its hypothetical nature.

projected budget

Emphasizes the future aspect and the act of projecting financial figures.

tentative budget

Implies that the budget is subject to revision and not yet firm.

preliminary budget

Indicates that the budget is in an early stage of development and subject to change.

indicative budget

Suggests that the budget is a guide or indication rather than a firm commitment.

planned budget

Focuses on the aspect of planning and intention behind the budget.

informal budget

Highlights the absence of the budget official status.

FAQs

What is a "notional budget"?

A "notional budget" is a budget created for planning purposes using estimated or projected figures, which may not reflect the actual financial results. It is often used for strategic planning and resource allocation before a final budget is approved.

How does a "notional budget" differ from an actual budget?

An actual budget is based on concrete financial data and approved for implementation, while a "notional budget" is based on estimations and projections. The actual budget guides spending, while the "notional budget" is used for initial planning.

When is it appropriate to use a "notional budget"?

A "notional budget" is useful during the initial stages of planning, when actual figures are not yet available. It helps in setting priorities, allocating resources, and assessing the feasibility of various projects or initiatives. However, it must be replaced with a "formal budget" once accurate data becomes available.

What are some synonyms for "notional budget"?

Synonyms for "notional budget" include "hypothetical budget", "projected budget", "estimated budget", and "preliminary budget". The choice of synonym depends on the specific context and the aspect of the budget you want to emphasize.