outstanding balances

USAGE SUMMARY

"outstanding balances" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to the amount of money that is still owed on a debt or account. Example: "Please make sure to pay off any outstanding balances on your credit card before the due date to avoid incurring interest charges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

HSBC will acquire the store-card accounts and their outstanding balances, Bon-Ton said.

The New York Times

So Ms. Bartone created two lists of each of their credit cards, along with the outstanding balances and interest rates.

The New York Times

Patients with outstanding balances were closely tracked by Accretive staff members, who listed them on "stop lists," internal documents show.

The New York Times

He predicted Sears would get 10percentt, or possibly less, in excess of its $30.8 billion in total outstanding balances.

The New York Times

That is partly because more cardholders will fall by the wayside as issuers raise prices for outstanding balances in response to the Card Act, he said.

The New York Times

You should beware of only paying the minimum your provider asks for each month, as outstanding balances will attract interest and your debt can quickly grow.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

You have an outstanding balance on your account.

The New Yorker

Dear Valued Pet, You have an outstanding balance on your account.

The New Yorker

On a $5 million outstanding balance, that would amount to $279,500.

The New York Times

Part of each payment is applied to the interest and part reduces the outstanding balance.

The New York Times

The outstanding balance on mortgage accounts delinquent more than 90 days was €17.5 billion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial reports or statements, use the term "outstanding balances" to clearly indicate the amounts that are yet to be paid or settled. This term is widely understood and accepted in financial contexts.

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "outstanding balance" when referring to multiple accounts or debts. "Outstanding balances" is appropriate when discussing several amounts, while "outstanding balance" refers to a single amount owed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding balances" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing financial obligations, debts, or amounts owed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstanding balances" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that refers to the total amount of money still owed on accounts or debts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in written English. The phrase is commonly found in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it is important to ensure clarity and accuracy in financial reporting. Pay close attention to whether you're referring to a single balance ("outstanding balance") or multiple balances ("outstanding balances") to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpaid amounts

Replaces "balances" with a synonym, focusing on the fact that the amounts haven't been paid.

unsettled debts

Substitutes "balances" with "debts" and "outstanding" with "unsettled", emphasizing the debt aspect.

remaining dues

Replaces "outstanding balances" with terms often used in membership or subscription contexts.

uncleared payments

Focuses on payments that have not yet been processed or cleared.

balances due

Rearranges the phrase to emphasize the obligation of payment.

uncollected receivables

A more formal term used in accounting to refer to amounts owed to a business.

outstanding liabilities

Replaces "balances" with a broader term encompassing all types of financial obligations.

open accounts

Highlights accounts that have not yet been settled or closed.

arrears

A concise term referring to debts that are overdue.

unliquidated debts

A formal term indicating debts that have not yet been converted to cash or settled.

FAQs

How can I use "outstanding balances" in a sentence?

You can use "outstanding balances" to refer to the total amount of money that is still owed. For example, "Please review your account statement for any "outstanding balances"."

What is the difference between "outstanding balance" and "outstanding balances"?

"Outstanding balance" refers to a single, unpaid amount. "Outstanding balances" refers to multiple unpaid amounts. For instance, you might have an "outstanding balance" on your credit card and "outstanding balances" across several accounts.

What are some alternatives to saying "outstanding balances"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "unpaid amounts", "balances due", or "unsettled debts".

Is it grammatically correct to say "outstanding balance is" or "outstanding balances are"?

Both are correct, depending on whether you are referring to a single balance or multiple balances. Use "outstanding balance is" when referring to one amount and "outstanding balances are" when referring to several amounts.