real budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "real budget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an actual or genuine budget, often in contrast to a theoretical or proposed one. Example: "After reviewing the initial estimates, we need to create a real budget that reflects our actual expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's time for Albany to pass a real budget.

The New York Times

There's no real budget to grow the collection.

The New York Times - Arts

For real budget eating, street stalls are excellent.

The Guardian - Travel

A real budget, that adds up, more or less.

The Guardian - Opinion

The odds of lawmakers fiddling with taxes are small, especially without a real budget crisis.

The New York Times

Now they're coming out fighting, and I think the real budget debate is only beginning".

The New Yorker

Are Republican governors, who have to deal with real budget constraints, different?

The New York Times

It's a real budget joint: dollar slices, combos with soda, that kinda thing.

The New Yorker

"Backers should have a real budget for their project," Allen says.

The Guardian - Business

They also had no real budget: about $15,000 for 3,500 square feet.

The New York Times

Real budget reform, like any real reform in Albany, will be difficult.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In political or economic commentary, "real budget" can highlight the contrast between proposed fiscal policies and the practical constraints faced by governing bodies.

Common error

Avoid using "real budget" when you actually mean an ideal or target budget. "Real budget" refers to the existing, concrete financial plan, not an aspirational one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "real budget" functions primarily as a noun phrase modifier. The adjective "real" qualifies the noun "budget", emphasizing its authenticity and practicality. As shown in Ludwig, the phrase is frequently used to distinguish an actual, existing budget from a theoretical or proposed one.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "real budget" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to emphasize the authenticity and practicality of a financial plan. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While alternatives like ""actual budget"" and ""genuine budget"" exist, "real budget" clearly distinguishes a concrete financial plan from a hypothetical one. When using the phrase, remember to focus on conveying that you refer to the existing, concrete financial plan, not an aspirational one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

actual budget

Replaces "real" with "actual", emphasizing the factual existence of the budget.

genuine budget

Substitutes "real" with "genuine", highlighting the authenticity of the budget.

realistic budget

Focuses on the feasibility and practicality of the budget.

effective budget

Emphasizes the budget's ability to achieve desired outcomes.

practical budget

Highlights the budget's suitability for real-world application.

substantive budget

Indicates a budget with significant and meaningful content.

substantial budget

Implies a budget of considerable size or importance.

accurate budget

Focuses on the correctness and precision of the budget figures.

confirmed budget

Stresses that the budget has been officially approved.

approved budget

Highlights the formal sanctioning of the budget.

FAQs

How can I use "real budget" in a sentence?

You can use "real budget" to emphasize the practical financial plan, as opposed to a hypothetical one. For example: "The city council must work within the constraints of the "real budget" to address infrastructure needs."

What's the difference between "real budget" and "ideal budget"?

"Real budget" refers to the actual, existing financial plan, while "ideal budget" represents a target or aspirational financial plan that may not be achievable in practice.

What can I say instead of "real budget"?

Alternatives include "actual budget", "genuine budget", or "realistic budget", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "real budget" in formal writing?

Yes, "real budget" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in contexts related to finance, economics, and politics. It clearly communicates the idea of a concrete, existing financial plan.