offset the difference

USAGE SUMMARY

"offset the difference" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to talk about making up the gap or difference between two values or quantities. For example: "The charitable donations made by the company helped offset the difference between the company's annual budget and its actual spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That includes a 4 percent raise to offset the difference between the benefits that A&M and Compass Group provide.

The New York Times

The $2.8 million the Padres will get from the Cardinals will offset the difference in Lankford's and Williams's salaries this season and next.

The New York Times - Sports

Omar Minaya, the Expos' general manager, made the deal by getting the Marlins to include about $1.5 million to offset the difference in salaries.

The New York Times - Sports

In 1996 Spain, lacking oil and gas resources, joined other European countries, including Germany and Denmark, in providing state funds to offset the difference for consumers between the cost of providing electricity from renewable sources and the market price.

The New York Times

If he's wrong about how much it will rise — as he was this time with his recently published price list of services — then his company has to offset the difference.

The New York Times

To help offset the difference, the Dodgers included $500,000 in the deal, but even if that sum were subtracted from the total payroll, the Yankees would still be in the nine-figure payroll area.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In a separate exchange of players whose contracts expire at the end of the season, the Knicks sent Malik Rose, and roughly $1 million to offset the differences in salaries, to Oklahoma City for Chris Wilcox, a much-needed frontcourt player.

The New York Times - Sports

Higher levels of post-dispersal seed predation on holly seeds also contributed to offset the differences between tree types.

Biological Conservation

This opposite trend probably offset the differences in forest floor C and N with no significant difference between tree species in C and N contents of the whole soil profile.

Forest Ecology and Management

The wide availability of software vendor choice and shops with iOS development expertise is likely more than enough to offset the differences in the cost of hardware between the iPad mini and other small tablets on the market, even though Amazon appears to be stepping up and attempting to sell harder to business customers with its Whispercast provisioning service.

TechCrunch

If this hypothesis were true, it might offset the differences in primary-care interval.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "offset the difference", ensure that the method of offsetting is clearly defined. For example, specify what actions or resources are being used to compensate for the difference.

Common error

Avoid using "offset the difference" without specifying how the difference is being addressed. Ensure clarity on what actions or factors are balancing or mitigating the disparity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "offset the difference" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of counteracting or compensating for a disparity. It suggests a deliberate attempt to balance or neutralize an existing variance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "offset the difference" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe the act of counteracting a disparity. Ludwig AI analysis indicates its suitability across various contexts, including news, science, and business. Its frequency is uncommon, suggesting moderate usage. The phrase conveys a sense of active compensation to achieve balance, and ensuring the method of offsetting is clearly defined will improve writing precision. It is important to clearly define the approach to balancing or mitigating that disparity to avoid vagueness. Examples from Ludwig showcase its application in real-world scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counterbalance the disparity

Emphasizes creating equilibrium by opposing a difference.

compensate for the variation

Highlights providing something to make up for a deviation.

neutralize the imbalance

Focuses on negating the effect of an uneven distribution.

mitigate the discrepancy

Suggests lessening the impact of a divergence.

make up for the gap

Implies filling a void or deficiency.

correct for the deviation

Highlights adjusting to remove an error or variation.

negate the distinction

Focuses on cancelling out the effect of distinct characteristics.

rectify the disparity

Suggests setting right an inequality.

equalize the distinction

Emphasizes making two things the same despite initial variances.

adjust for the variation

Focuses on adapting to account for differences.

FAQs

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

Use "offset the difference" to describe how an action or measure compensates for a disparity. For example, "Increased sales helped "offset the difference" in profits caused by higher production costs."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "offset the difference"?

You can use alternatives like "counterbalance the disparity", "compensate for the variation", or "mitigate the discrepancy" depending on the context.

Is it better to "offset the difference" or "reduce the difference"?

Whether to "offset the difference" or "reduce the difference" depends on the desired outcome. "Offset the difference" implies neutralizing an impact, while "reduce the difference" suggests lessening the disparity itself.

What does it mean to "offset the difference" in a financial context?

In finance, to ""offset the difference"" often refers to using gains in one area to cover losses in another, or implementing strategies that minimize the impact of negative financial results.