offsetting

USAGE SUMMARY

'offsetting' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of balancing out or countering one thing by another, as in: "The company is offsetting economic losses from the pandemic with increased cost-saving measures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It also found the railway and its supply chain pay £3.9bn a year in tax, offsetting nearly all of the £4bn the government provides to support train operations.

The Guardian

Since 2005, the UK's population has increased by almost 5 million to 64 million and its workforce reached a record of more than 30 million, partly offsetting a sharp rise in the number of pensioners.

The Guardian - Business

Offsetting this, $40m will go towards tackling the threats faced by the Great Barrier Reef and $300,000 will be given to Melbourne Zoo to facilitate the release of 60 orangutans back into the wild in Indonesia.

The Guardian

But in Ireland the offsetting will take the form of new projects in other parts of the country.

The Guardian

Jessica Hinds, a European economist at Capital Economics, said: "April's fall in the eurozone composite PMI suggested that fears over Greece might already be starting to dampen economic growth in the region, offsetting any boost from loose monetary policy and the weakness of the euro.

The Guardian - Business

"Although the recent fall in equity prices and weaker economic prospects in Europe will leave some imprint on the U.S. economy, offsetting factors include declines in interest rates on Treasury bonds and home mortgages, as well as lower prices for oil and some other globally traded commodities".

The New York Times

Mr Bush is the first president for many years to lose the independent vote.But offsetting all this was Mr Bush's success at mobilising his base.

The Economist

The party should also do well in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.The Democrats' main hope of offsetting these gains lies in California, where they control the governorship and both houses of the legislature.

The Economist

Doing so will help to close the massive deficit of Naftogaz, the state gas monopoly, which for years has supplied Ukrainian households at a fifth of the price it pays for gas.To quell dissent, some governments are offsetting price rises by helping the neediest.

The Economist

Second, and offsetting the first effect, once the new rules are in place the benefits from having fewer crises are big.

The Economist

Yields on ten-year Treasuries, at 3.3%, are lower than they were in August 2008, before bail-outs and recession sent projected deficits into the stratosphere.It may be that other, temporary forces, such as the lack of private borrowing or the Fed's easy monetary policy, are offsetting any worries about deficits.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "offsetting" in the context of environmental impact, be specific about what actions are being taken to counterbalance the carbon emissions or other negative effects. This adds credibility to your statement.

Common error

A common mistake is to assume that "offsetting" a negative impact completely eliminates it. Be aware that offsetting measures may only partially mitigate the harm, not erase it entirely.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "offsetting" is a present participle or gerund, often used as a verb to describe the action of counteracting or balancing something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "offsetting" is a versatile term used to describe the act of counteracting or balancing something, with the goal of reducing a negative impact. As indicated by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news, business, and environmental discussions. While it doesn't always imply complete elimination of the initial problem, it signifies a deliberate action to mitigate its effects. Therefore, ensure clarity regarding the scale and scope of "offsetting" when using it in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counterbalancing

Emphasizes equilibrium; implies equal and opposing forces, maintaining stability.

neutralizing

Focuses on rendering something ineffective or harmless, cancelling out its impact.

compensating for

Highlights the act of making amends or providing something to make up for a deficiency.

mitigating

Suggests reducing the severity or impact of something negative.

counteracting

Implies direct action taken to oppose or reverse the effect of something.

negating

Focuses on nullifying or invalidating the effect or existence of something.

cancelling out

Indicates a complete elimination of an effect through opposing forces.

making up for

Suggests rectifying a deficiency or loss by providing a substitute or equivalent.

setting off against

Highlights the act of balancing one thing against another, often in accounting or finance.

redressing

Focuses on correcting an injustice or wrong, implying a restoration of balance.

FAQs

How is "offsetting" used in environmental contexts?

In environmental discussions, "offsetting" typically refers to actions that compensate for carbon emissions or other environmental damage. For example, planting trees to offset the carbon footprint of air travel.

What are some synonyms for "offsetting" in a business context?

In business, you can use terms like "counterbalancing", "compensating for", or "mitigating" instead of "offsetting" to describe actions that reduce negative financial impacts.

Is "offsetting" always a complete solution?

No, "offsetting" doesn't always provide a complete solution. It often aims to reduce the negative impact, but may not eliminate it entirely. The effectiveness of "offsetting" strategies can vary.

How does "offsetting" differ from simply reducing something?

"Offsetting" involves compensating for a negative impact by creating an equivalent positive impact, whereas reducing focuses on decreasing the initial negative impact directly. For example, reducing energy consumption versus "compensating for" energy use with renewable energy credits.