return a profit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "return a profit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial contexts to indicate that an investment or business activity has generated a profit. Example: "After analyzing the quarterly reports, we are pleased to see that our new product line is expected to return a profit by the end of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

One needs to assume a 20% lower than quoted API cost for 7 and 5 formulations to return a profit, and at a 40% lower API cost 8 and 7 formulations become profitable, in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

Globalization and Health

There is a reason that "last year's bums" often return a profit the following season.

The New York Times

Housing associations are not under the same pressure as private developers to return a profit.

The Guardian

Yet it is typically enough to offset the company's extensive marketing efforts, and return a profit, Mr. Bassman said.

The New York Times

When more expensive trains arrive on the tracks its ability to return a profit will be reduced.

The Economist

And they are no longer merely promotional tools, but are expected, in many cases, to return a profit.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The most successful movies ever made seem to never return a net profit.

Huffington Post

It has paid back its investors and is now returning a profit.

The New York Times

If some of her productions returned a profit, it was modest.

The New York Times

He had 5 winners out of 6, and $2 on every spin would have returned a profit of $66.30.

The New Yorker

His designs won acclaim when the label launched in 1987, although the business never returned a profit.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "return a profit" in contexts where you want to emphasize that an initial investment or effort has resulted in a positive financial outcome. For example, 'The company's strategic marketing campaign helped it to return a significant profit this quarter.'

Common error

Don't confuse "return a profit" with simply generating revenue. "Return a profit" specifically means that the revenue exceeds the expenses, resulting in a net gain. To avoid misrepresentation, ensure the context clearly indicates that expenses have been accounted for when using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "return a profit" functions as a verb phrase with a noun object, describing the action of yielding a financial gain after expenses. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is widely used in financial contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "return a profit" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that a business or investment has yielded a financial gain. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across a variety of contexts, primarily in news, business, and scientific domains. Alternatives like "generate a profit" or "make a profit" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Remember to use the phrase accurately, ensuring that the context reflects revenue exceeding expenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generate a profit

Focuses on the action of creating or producing profit.

yield a profit

Emphasizes the outcome or result of an investment or business activity.

make a profit

A more direct and common way to express profitability.

realize a profit

Highlights the actual materialization of profit.

achieve profitability

Focuses on reaching a state of being profitable.

gain a profit

Suggests acquiring profit as a result.

derive a profit

Emphasizes the source or origin of the profit.

reap a profit

Suggests benefiting from a successful venture.

secure a profit

Highlights the effort to obtain profit.

bring in revenue

Focuses on the income aspect, which contributes to potential profit.

FAQs

How can I use "return a profit" in a sentence?

You can use "return a profit" to indicate that a business venture or investment has yielded a financial gain after expenses. For example, "The company's new product line is expected to "return a profit" by the end of the year."

What are some alternatives to "return a profit"?

Alternatives include "generate a profit", "yield a profit", or simply "make a profit", depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "return a profit" or "make a profit"?

Both phrases are generally acceptable and often used interchangeably. "Return a profit" can sometimes imply that there was an initial investment or expectation of financial gain, while "make a profit" is a more general term.

What does it mean when a company is unable to "return a profit"?

If a company fails to ""return a profit"", it means that its expenses exceeded its revenue, resulting in a financial loss rather than a gain.