pencilled down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'pencilled down' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to mean that something has been reduced or made smaller. For example, "The company pencilled down the budget for the project by 10%."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

JPMorgan is calling the initiative "pencils down".

Huffington Post

Pencils down!

The New Yorker

Pencils down, everyone.

The New Yorker

By Eric Lach November 12, 2009 Pencils down!

The New Yorker

"Pencils down," he ordered after the minute was up.

The New York Times

Put your pencil down and eat the test.

The New Yorker

By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins September 3, 2009 Pencils down, everyone.

The New Yorker

"As we say in the education business, pencils down".

The New York Times

I said, 'Put those pencils down and start throwing some bags.' Most did, some didn't.

The New Yorker

At some point, he said, he put the pencil down and became a fan.

The New York Times - Sports

When you have finished writing your answer, put your pencil down and look up.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pencilled down" when indicating a preliminary or tentative reduction, especially in financial or budgetary contexts. It suggests the change isn't necessarily final.

Common error

Avoid using "pencilled down" to describe permanent or officially approved reductions. This phrase implies an adjustment that is subject to change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pencilled down" functions as a phrasal verb, primarily in business and financial contexts, to denote a tentative or preliminary reduction or decrease. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pencilled down" is a phrasal verb used to express a preliminary or tentative reduction, primarily in business and financial contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While its usage is relatively rare, it effectively communicates that adjustments are not necessarily final. When aiming for precision, consider its context and purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced tentatively

Emphasizes the act of decreasing something in a way that is not necessarily permanent.

provisionally decreased

Highlights the temporary nature of the reduction or decrease.

budgeted less

Focuses on the financial aspect of reducing expenditure or resources.

decreased hypothetically

Suggests a decrease that is only considered as a possibility or scenario.

projected a decline

Indicates a forecasted decrease or downturn in performance or figures.

scaled back preliminarily

Implies an initial or early reduction in scope or scale.

estimated lower

Focuses on providing a lower estimate compared to previous expectations.

forecasted downward

Emphasizes predicting a decline in future values or performance.

revised downward

Highlights that a previous estimate or value has been changed to a lower level.

moderated slightly

Suggests a mild or gentle decrease or reduction in intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "pencilled down" in a sentence?

You can use "pencilled down" to indicate a tentative decrease or reduction. For example, "Analysts have "pencilled down" profit forecasts due to the economic downturn."

What does "pencilled down" mean?

"Pencilled down" means to reduce or decrease something in a tentative or preliminary manner. It often implies that the reduction isn't necessarily permanent.

Which is correct, "pencilled down" or "written down"?

Both phrases are correct but have different meanings. "Pencilled down" suggests a tentative reduction, while "written down" typically refers to a permanent accounting adjustment reflecting a loss in value.

Are there synonyms for "pencilled down"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "tentatively reduced", "provisionally decreased", or "budgeted less" depending on the specific context.