put a cap on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put a cap on" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to set a limit or boundary on something, as in "The government decided to put a cap on the number of refugees allowed into the country each year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

One way to do that may be to put a cap on the grants any one lab can receive.

The New York Times - Science

The Jubilee effectively put a cap on how much any one family could acquire.

Huffington Post

Whatever you choose, avoid buying more than one or two pieces, and put a cap on your costume spending before you start shopping.

WikiHow

Yet India's regulations put a cap on firm size.

The Economist

Congress decided not to put a cap on such maneuvers.

The New York Times

Valentine would not put a cap on Estes's ceiling.

The New York Times - Sports

But this legislation does not put a cap on spending.

The New York Times - Magazine

But definitely, it's up to the government to put a cap on it".

The New York Times

Federal tax law does put a cap on pension payouts, currently $195,000 a year.

The New York Times

So why didn't the card act put a cap on the fees?

The New York Times

They can put a cap on the number of troops the president can send.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "put a cap on", ensure the context clearly specifies what is being limited. For instance, "The company decided to "put a cap on" travel expenses for the quarter."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the scope of the limitation. Instead of saying "We need to "put a cap on" things", specify "We need to "put a cap on" overtime hours to manage costs effectively".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put a cap on" functions as a phrasal verb. It's used to express the act of imposing a limit or restriction on something. The phrase is commonly employed across various contexts to indicate a maximum or ceiling, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put a cap on" is a versatile and commonly used phrasal verb that signifies imposing a limit or restriction. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for neutral contexts, particularly in news and media. When employing this phrase, ensure the scope of the limitation is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "impose a limit on" or "set a ceiling on" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase's widespread usage and clear meaning make it a reliable choice for expressing limitations in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impose a limit on

Focuses on the act of imposing a restriction, similar to setting a cap.

set a ceiling on

Implies establishing an upper boundary, akin to a cap.

limit the amount of

Directly indicates a restriction on quantity or extent.

restrict the quantity of

Emphasizes the controlled amount of something.

place a restriction on

Highlights the imposition of a rule or constraint.

curb the growth of

Suggests restraining expansion or increase.

control the level of

Focuses on maintaining a certain degree of something.

regulate the use of

Indicates the formal control over how something is utilized.

constrain the size of

Implies limiting the dimensions or scale.

check the expansion of

Suggests monitoring and controlling growth.

FAQs

How can I use "put a cap on" in a sentence?

You can use "put a cap on" to indicate setting a limit. For instance, "The organization decided to "put a cap on" the number of participants for the workshop".

What is an alternative to saying "put a cap on"?

Alternatives include phrases like "impose a limit on", "set a ceiling on", or "restrict the amount of" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct: "put a cap on" or "place a cap on"?

Both "put a cap on" and "place a cap on" are correct and have similar meanings, although "put a cap on" is more commonly used. Both express the act of setting a limit.

What's the difference between "put a cap on" and "put a limit on"?

While both phrases signify setting restrictions, "put a cap on" often implies a specific upper threshold or maximum, whereas "put a limit on" can be more general and doesn't necessarily denote a fixed number or quantity.