scarce funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarce funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is a limited amount of money available for a particular purpose or project. Example: "Due to scarce funds, the organization had to cut back on several planned initiatives this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She has had to come up with scarce funds for several of their pet projects.

The Economist

This financing allows New York City to use the Parks Department's scarce funds for its 1,500 other parks.

The New York Times

To divert scarce funds away from these promising avenues would be a sad victory of politics over science.

The New York Times

In a downturn, that makes sense: The outflow of scarce funds to support "freed" projects is reduced or eliminated.

Harvard Business Review

Scarce funds must go to the top five causes of death, he said: diarrhea, pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria and sexually transmitted diseases.

The New York Times - Health

This page has supported building the full Second Avenue line, but some critics fear it would gobble up scarce funds best used elsewhere.

The New York Times

The islands are trying to cope, earmarking scarce funds to deal with these challenges, set against a backdrop of economic struggle and often poor infrastructure.

The Guardian - Opinion

To compete on a level playing field would force these countries to subsidise their farmers, diverting scarce funds that are needed for education, health, and infrastructure.

The Guardian - Opinion

The towns have not been so fortunate, having spent scarce funds in exchange for thousands of jobs that no longer exist.

The New York Times

Scarce funds, unsettled conditions in the country, poor sanitation, and a shortage of medicine contributed to high incidences of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and pneumonia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The war ground on, the prospects of an actual weapon seemed remote, and scarce funds kept the number of employees working under Kurchatov limited.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "scarce funds", offer practical solutions or strategies for managing the limited resources effectively.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "scarce funds" without providing specific examples or data to support your claims. Instead, offer realistic and actionable solutions to mitigate the challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce funds" functions as a noun phrase, where "scarce" is an adjective modifying the noun "funds". According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase in English, indicating a limited availability of financial resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Academia

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarce funds" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to describe a limited availability of financial resources. According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase in English. Its function is to indicate financial limitations or constraints, serving a primarily informative purpose. It is used across various registers with a neutral tone, being most common in News & Media and Science contexts. When using "scarce funds", it's helpful to provide context regarding what the funds are insufficient for, while avoiding overstating the consequences without providing supporting details. Alternatives such as "limited funds" or "insufficient funds" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited funds

Emphasizes the restricted quantity of funds available.

insufficient funds

Highlights the inadequacy of the funds to meet the required needs.

meager funds

Suggests a very small and often inadequate amount of funds.

inadequate funds

Focuses on the unsuitability of the funds for the intended purpose.

limited resources

Broader term encompassing all types of resources, not just financial.

tight budget

Refers to a financial plan that allows little room for extra spending.

restricted budget

Indicates that spending is limited by specific constraints.

shoestring budget

Implies an extremely small and limited budget.

limited financing

Specifically refers to the availability of financial backing or investment.

financial constraints

Highlights the limitations imposed by financial circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "scarce funds" in a sentence?

You can use "scarce funds" to describe situations where financial resources are limited, such as "Due to "scarce funds", the project's scope had to be reduced".

What are some alternatives to "scarce funds"?

Some alternatives include "limited funds", "insufficient funds", or "meager funds", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "scarce funds" and "limited resources"?

"Scarce funds" specifically refers to a limited amount of money, while "limited resources" is a broader term that can encompass all types of resources, including time, materials, and personnel.

Is it better to use "scarce funds" or "insufficient funding"?

Both "scarce funds" and "insufficient funding" are acceptable, but "scarce funds" emphasizes the limited quantity of money, while "insufficient funding" focuses on the inadequacy of the funding to meet the needs.