offset the costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "offset the costs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ways to balance or counteract expenses in various contexts, such as business, finance, or budgeting. Example: "The company implemented new strategies to offset the costs of production and improve profitability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The benefits of doing so far offset the costs".

The New York Times

The fees will be used to offset the costs of programming for joint degree students.

Harvard University

Investing in renewable energy now will help offset the costs of climate change later.

Columbia University

The colleges helped to offset the costs of bringing DV8 to the United States.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Obama this year proposed over $900 billion in savings to offset the costs.

The New York Times - Health

It offset the costs to its farmers from higher industrial tariffs by giving them subsidies.

The New York Times

as a 'societe en difficulte' to offset the costs of premature redundancies and pensions.

The Guardian

The organizers said the value of the publicity more than offset the costs.

The New York Times

This would allow bosses to offset the costs of dividend payments against their tax bill.

The Economist

If this premium is high enough, it will offset the costs of compliance.

The Economist

Sales of new merchandise would probably not offset the costs associated with a name change.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "offset the costs", be specific about how the costs are being counteracted. For example, "Increased sales will offset the costs of the new marketing campaign."

Common error

Avoid using "offset the costs" without clearly identifying which costs are being offset. Be precise about the specific expenses being counterbalanced to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "offset the costs" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of counteracting or balancing expenses with other resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "offset the costs" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression for describing how expenses are counterbalanced or compensated for. As Ludwig AI states, it’s a standard phrase and easy to incorporate in your writing. With a neutral to professional register, it is suitable for a variety of contexts including news, academia, and business. Remember to be specific about which costs are being offset and how. Alternative phrases such as "mitigate the expenses" or "counterbalance the expenditures" can be used for variety, but maintaining clarity is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counterbalance the expenditures

A more formal way of saying "offset the costs", emphasizing a direct opposing force to the expenditures.

mitigate the expenses

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact of expenses, rather than completely counteracting them.

neutralize the expenditures

Emphasizes the act of rendering the expenditures ineffective or without impact.

balance out the expenses

Implies creating equilibrium between expenses and other factors, such as income or savings.

defray the expenses

Suggests contributing to or covering a portion of the expenses, rather than the entire amount.

compensate for the spending

Highlights making up for the money spent, often implying a replacement or reimbursement.

make up for the outlays

Focuses on compensating or providing an equivalent value for the money spent.

recoup the investment

Specifically refers to recovering the initial investment or outlay of funds.

subsidize the charges

Indicates providing financial assistance to reduce the burden of charges.

cover the overheads

Specifically refers to covering general operating expenses, rather than all costs.

FAQs

How can I use "offset the costs" in a sentence?

You can use "offset the costs" to describe how one thing can balance out expenses. For example: "The grant will "offset the costs" of the research project."

What can I say instead of "offset the costs"?

Alternatives include "mitigate the expenses", "counterbalance the expenditures", or "defray the expenses", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "offset for the costs"?

No, the correct phrasing is "offset the costs". The preposition "for" is not needed and changes the meaning.

What's the difference between "offset the costs" and "reduce the costs"?

"Offset the costs" implies counterbalancing expenses with something else (like revenue or savings), while "reduce the costs" simply means lowering the amount of expenses.