set aside funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set aside funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of reserving or allocating money for a specific purpose or future use. Example: "The organization decided to set aside funds for community development projects in the upcoming fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some must set aside funds that will generate the pension benefits promised to their workers.

The Economist

Although Kleiman urged state officials to set aside funds for increased law enforcement, he can get impatient with such complaints.

The New Yorker

"Most successful men with daughters in their 20s set aside funds for the big day," said Mr. Gruber, the photographer.

The New York Times

"It's truly an opportunity that a small-business owner has to set aside funds and not get taxed personally and have some operational benefits," Mr. Sturm said.

The New York Times

Under the rules presented Thursday, banks will need to set aside funds equivalent to 80 percent of their property assets, compared with 31 percent now.

The New York Times

A 529 Plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs.

University of California, Berkeley

Earnings declined after the company set aside funds to cover potentially questionable debts from clients that borrowed money to acquire Lucent's products.

The New York Times

There was successful, bipartisan governance in the 1990's to balance budgets, pay down the national debt and set aside funds for future entitlements like Social Security.

The New York Times

A local government in Wenzhou, a city in Zhejiang province, set aside funds to preserve old houses after his first book came out, he said.

The New York Times

For example, some customers may have paid bills that Nortel had earlier declared bad debts and set aside funds to cover them.

The New York Times

Chubb paid claims and set aside funds to cover more possible payouts to Enron trading partners who say Enron failed to deliver commodities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial planning or project budgeting, ensure clarity by specifying the exact purpose for which the funds are being "set aside". Use precise language to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "set aside funds" without specifying the intended purpose. Simply stating that funds are "set aside" lacks detail and may confuse the reader. Instead, clarify what the funds are intended for, like "set aside funds for future expansion" or "set aside funds for emergency repairs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set aside funds" functions as a verb phrase, typically used within a sentence to indicate the action of allocating or reserving money for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms this is a common and accepted usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "set aside funds" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of allocating or reserving money for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It is employed across various contexts, including news, academia, and business, with a neutral to professional register. While it's important to clearly specify the purpose for which funds are being set aside to avoid ambiguity, this phrase offers a concise and effective way to communicate financial planning and resource management strategies. Consider alternatives like "allocate resources" or "earmark money" to add nuanced meaning to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appropriate funds

Refers to the formal act of authorizing funds for a specific purpose, often in a legislative context.

designate funds

Focuses on the action of officially assigning funds for a specific use.

allocate resources

Focuses on the distribution of resources among different needs.

commit funds

Highlights the obligation or pledge to use funds for a particular purpose.

earmark money

Emphasizes that money is specifically designated for a particular purpose.

reserve capital

Highlights the act of keeping capital available, potentially for investment or emergencies.

allocate budget

Refers to the distribution of a budget among different items.

dedicate resources

Similar to earmark, but can apply to any type of resource, not just money.

put aside savings

Highlights act of saving money.

save money

Simply means to accumulate or keep money for future use.

FAQs

What does it mean to "set aside funds"?

To "set aside funds" means to reserve or allocate money for a specific purpose, often in the future. This could be for anything from a personal savings goal to a company's investment in a new project.

What are some alternatives to saying "set aside funds"?

You can use alternatives like "allocate resources", "reserve capital", or "earmark money" depending on the context.

How is "set aside funds" used in financial planning?

In financial planning, "set aside funds" is a common strategy for saving for future goals, such as retirement, education, or a down payment on a house. It involves regularly allocating a portion of income to savings or investment accounts.

Is it better to "set aside funds" or invest them?

Whether to "set aside funds" in a savings account or invest them depends on your financial goals and risk tolerance. Setting aside funds in a savings account is generally safer but offers lower returns, while investing carries more risk but has the potential for higher returns.