offset the deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "offset the deficit" is both grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to balance or counteract the amount of money or resources that are lacking or in debt. It is often used in financial or economic contexts. Example: The government implemented new tax measures in order to offset the deficit in the national budget. In this example, "offset the deficit" means to reduce or balance out the amount of money that the government is currently lacking in their budget.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

With no bowl money to offset the deficit, the university discontinued its football program.

The New York Times - Sports

"Unless the U.S. economy recovers sharply, it will be increasingly difficult for the U.S. to attract that high-quality investment that can offset the deficit".

The New York Times

Vietnam also runs a massive trade deficit with its neighbour and has been pushing China's government to invest more in the country to offset the deficit.

The Economist

"Raising tax rates will slow down our ability to create the jobs that everyone says they want," said Mr. Boehner, who said he favored generating any new federal revenue to offset the deficit by closing tax loopholes and limiting deductions.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Linking two of the politically volatile issues of the moment, Senate Democrats say they will move forward this week with a plan that would eliminate tax breaks for big oil companies and divert the savings to offset the deficit.

The New York Times

A quirk in the way the tax bill is written is tempting some key senators and Administration officials to do precisely what the President had been saying he would never allow & what a number of senators who are seriously concerned about the stubborn & still enormous deficit said should not be done: use revenues raised by the tax bill in the early stages to offset the deficit.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Economists and policy makers mostly forgot that Keynes prescribed budget surpluses during economic upswings to offset the deficits that he correctly advocated during downturns.

The New York Times

"Unless unemployment is paid for, I can't support it". (Nelson and Republicans do not insist on offsetting the deficit impact of tax cuts for the rich, estimated to be near $700 billion. The progressive Economic Policy Institute puts the cost of a full year's worth of extended unemployment benefits at $65 billion).

Huffington Post

Growth has to be higher to offset the ongoing deficit woes.

The Guardian - Business

D. State governments will run a budget surplus to offset the federal deficit.

The New York Times

The economics are seductive because second runs on a cable network can offset the financial deficit each show carries.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing economic strategies, use "offset the deficit" to clearly communicate the goal of counterbalancing financial shortcomings through specific actions.

Common error

Avoid using "offset the deficit" when you mean to completely eliminate it. "Offset" implies a balance or counteraction, not a total removal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "offset the deficit" functions as a verb phrase, typically indicating an action intended to counteract or balance a financial shortfall. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. Examples show it used in contexts involving economic policies and financial strategies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "offset the deficit" is grammatically sound and serves to describe actions intended to counteract a financial shortfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, especially in contexts related to news, finance, and economics. While similar phrases like "reduce the deficit" and "mitigate the deficit" exist, "offset the deficit" specifically implies a balancing or counteracting effect rather than complete elimination. It’s important to maintain this distinction for clarity in writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Counteract the deficit

Emphasizes opposing the deficit's effects.

Mitigate the deficit

Highlights lessening the severity of the deficit.

Alleviate the deficit

Implies providing relief from the deficit.

Reduce the deficit

Focuses on lessening the deficit's size.

Make up for the deficit

Focuses on compensating for what's lacking.

Balance out the deficit

Suggests achieving equilibrium to nullify the deficit.

Rectify the deficit

Suggests correcting or setting right the deficit situation.

Neutralize the deficit

Highlights rendering the deficit ineffective.

Recoup the deficit

Focuses on recovering what has been lost due to the deficit.

Erase the deficit

Implies completely eliminating the deficit.

FAQs

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

You can use "offset the deficit" to describe actions taken to counteract a financial shortfall, such as "The new tax policy aims to "offset the deficit" caused by the economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "offset the deficit"?

Some alternatives include "reduce the deficit", "mitigate the deficit", or "alleviate the deficit", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "offset the deficit" or "offsetting the deficit"?

"Offset the deficit" is an infinitive phrase often used to describe a goal or intention, while "offsetting the deficit" is a gerund phrase used to describe an ongoing action. Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the context.

What's the difference between "offset the deficit" and "eliminate the deficit"?

"Offset the deficit" implies balancing or counteracting a financial shortfall, while "eliminate the deficit" suggests completely removing it. The former is about mitigation, the latter about total eradication.