spending ceiling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spending ceiling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a limit to the amount of money that can be spent over a certain period of time. For example, "The city council has implemented a spending ceiling to address budget overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Reports say the latest draft puts the spending ceiling at 960bn euros (£813bn; $1.3tn), equivalent to actual payments totalling 908bn euros.

BBC

House and Senate negotiators struggled for months last fall to produce a compromise that would cost no more than $400 billion, the spending ceiling Bush had set for the program.

Los Angeles Times

The Senate version would increase the spending ceiling, the members said.

The New York Times

The Democratic National Committee, with no spending ceiling, paid for $46 million in issue advertisements.

The New York Times

Gordhan promised to uphold South Africa's spending ceiling, reform failing state-owned enterprises and protect the country's credit rating.

The Guardian

The latest proposals from the European Commission call for the spending ceiling to be raised by 50% over the next five years.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

This is followed by congressional consideration of a budget resolution that, in part, sets spending ceilings for the upcoming fiscal year.

Stanford University

House and Senate Budget Committees hold hearings and decide separately on their budgets, which set total spending and revenues, resulting deficit, and spending ceilings for 22 broad categories.

The New York Times

The amendment was attached to the bill that sets spending ceilings and extends or establishes programs for the Government's various intelligence agencies.

The New York Times

He said that in his 1974 campaign he would reject cash contributions, take no more than $100 from any individual, report every contribution and expenditure and voluntarily abide by spending ceilings passed by the Senate.

The New York Times

The task force report fixes no precise money goals for eco nomic development aid by the United States Government, sug gesting that the matter of spending ceilings be determined by the President and Congress.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing governmental or organizational budgets, use "spending ceiling" to clearly define the maximum allowable expenditure, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial reporting.

Common error

Avoid using "spending ceiling" interchangeably with "debt ceiling". "Spending ceiling" refers to a limit on expenditures, while "debt ceiling" is a limit on how much debt a government can accumulate. They address different aspects of financial management.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spending ceiling" functions as a noun phrase that designates a limit on the amount of money that can be spent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to refer to a limit to the amount of money that can be spent over a certain period of time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spending ceiling" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote a limit on expenditures. As Ludwig AI validates, it effectively communicates a boundary in financial discussions across news, academic, and business contexts. Remember to use it accurately to avoid confusion with related terms like "debt ceiling", and consider alternatives such as "expenditure cap" for variety. The phrase is most frequently found in authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC, solidifying its reliability and widespread use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Expenditure ceiling

Synonymous, focusing on the maximum expenditure.

Spending limit

Directly limits the amount of spending allowed.

Expenditure cap

Focuses on the upper limit of what can be spent.

Budget ceiling

Places an upper limit on the budget itself.

Budgetary constraint

Emphasizes the restriction imposed by the budget.

Fiscal limit

Highlights the financial boundary or restriction.

Maximum expenditure

Describes the highest allowable amount to be spent.

Financial restriction

General term for limiting finances.

Fiscal restraint

Emphasizes the act of controlling spending.

Appropriation limit

Specifically limits the funds allocated.

FAQs

How is "spending ceiling" typically used in a sentence?

You can use "spending ceiling" to describe a budgetary limit set by an organization or government. For example, "The government imposed a "spending ceiling" on defense spending".

What are some alternatives to using "spending ceiling"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "expenditure cap", "budgetary constraint", or "fiscal limit".

What is the difference between "spending ceiling" and "spending limit"?

While they are very similar, "spending limit" is a more general term for any restriction on spending, while "spending ceiling" specifically refers to an upper boundary or maximum amount that can be spent. They are almost interchangeable, but the latter is more precise.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the term "spending ceiling"?

"Spending ceiling" is particularly appropriate in formal discussions of government or organizational budgets, financial regulations, and economic policy. It's a clear and concise way to define an upper limit on expenditures.