spending

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'spending' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of expending money to purchase something or to pay for services. Example: John had to cut down on his spending after he lost his job.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She added: "This is further evidence that Paterson's unwillingness to accept the science on climate change is leading him to make the wrong choices on spending cuts within his department".

The Guardian

Her argument was to question why it is acceptable to discuss spending billions on HS2 to create links and work opportunities, but not on childcare.

The Guardian - Opinion

No, sorry, I'm spending Saturday night comparing paid-for social media management apps and shortlisting Wordpress themes.

The Guardian

Piechowski and Bendera spent time in Ukraine before Piechowski returned to Poland, joining the partisan Polish Home Army and spending the rest of the war fighting the Nazis.

The Guardian

He said that, in addition to scrapping fossil fuel subsidies and introducing a carbon tax, the World Bank's plan involved spending more on energy efficiency, measures to make agriculture greener and changes to help cities become less polluted and more liveable.

The Guardian

And among the new members, they are the champions at spending money from structural funds.

The Guardian

The lesula proved so cryptic that despite spending more than two months in the jungle, McPhee never saw a wild individual.

The Guardian

Ms Moss issued a public apology and said she was taking steps to address "personal issues" before spending some time in a private rehab clinic in Arizona.

The Guardian

Speaking in Belfast, Villiers had earlier revealed that the power sharing government at Stormont is spending more than £30m per year in relation to unresolved issues of the past conflict.

The Guardian

Although Arsenal's manager ruled out joining the race for Paul Pogba, on the grounds that the Juventus midfielder would be too expensive, he said that signing Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez in the past two summers proves that he is not averse to spending money.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This has fallen slightly since then, but their report suggests that with NHS England projections of flat cash for the NHS, and reasonable assumptions around forecast GDP growth, we could see our spend on healthcare falling back to around 6% of GDP by 2021, equivalent of 2003's spending levels.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In financial reports or business analyses, quantify "spending" with specific figures and timeframes to give a clear picture of financial activity.

Common error

Avoid using "spending" and "investment" interchangeably. "Spending" implies an expense, while "investment" suggests an expenditure with the expectation of future returns. Use "investment" when the expenditure is expected to generate future benefits or income.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "spending" is as a noun, referring to the amount of money or resources expended. It can also function as a gerund or present participle of the verb "spend". Ludwig AI confirms this, showcasing examples where "spending" acts as both a noun and a verb form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

This analysis provides a detailed overview of the word "spending", examining its grammatical correctness, frequency, and contextual usage. According to Ludwig AI, "spending" is considered correct and versatile in written English. It functions primarily as a noun and gerund, denoting the act of expending money or resources. With very common usage across various domains, particularly in news and formal business contexts, "spending" is an important word in financial and economic discussions. This guide offers practical advice on avoiding common errors and leveraging its use effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expenditure

Formal term referring to the act of spending or disbursing funds; often used in official or financial contexts.

outlay

Refers to the act of paying out money; often used in business or investment contexts.

disbursement

The act of distributing or paying out money, especially from a fund or account.

consumption

The act of using resources, goods, or services.

investment

Allocating money with the expectation of generating future income or profits.

costs

The amount required to pay for something.

expenses

Money spent or cost incurred in an enterprise or undertaking.

payments

The action or process of paying someone or something, or of being paid.

financial commitment

An obligation of funds, whether it be for a one-time payment or recurring installment.

fiscal allocation

The amount set aside for a specific purpose. It's used in the government context.

FAQs

How to use "spending" in a sentence?

"Spending" can be used as a noun to refer to the amount of money spent, or as a verb (in its present participle form) to describe the act of expending money. For example: "Government spending on education has increased," or "She is spending her vacation in Italy".

What can I say instead of "spending"?

You can use alternatives like "expenditure", "outlay", or "disbursement" depending on the context. Each of these words carries a slightly different nuance and is appropriate in different situations.

Which is correct, "spending" or "spendings"?

"Spending" is generally used as a non-count noun, referring to the general act of spending money or resources. "Spendings" is less common and usually refers to specific instances or categories of expenses. Therefore, "spending" is usually the correct choice.

What's the difference between "spending" and "consumption"?

"Spending" typically refers to the act of expending money or resources. "Consumption", on the other hand, refers to the use of goods and services. While related, "spending" is the financial transaction, and "consumption" is the utilization of what was purchased.