surplus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surplus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an amount that is more than what is needed or required, often in the context of finances or resources. Example: "The company reported a surplus of funds at the end of the fiscal year, allowing for new investments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several port expansions are planned to facilitate this, although BHP has pulled out of one project amid concerns that Queensland already has a surplus of port capacity.

The Guardian

Residents will be able to control the heat and ventilation of their homes at the touch of a button and sell their surplus energy into the grid.

The Guardian

Europe's recovery from its debt crisis took two significant steps forward on Wednesday as Greece posted a primary budget surplus and Portugal made a successful return to the bond markets for the first time in three years.

The Guardian - Business

The budget underlined this plan, which means the amount of gross government debt outstanding will grow with the size of the economy, year in, year out, even when the government returns to surplus and the proceeds from asset sales flow to the government and bolster the headline cash budget balance.

The Guardian - Opinion

Paul Keating's 1988 budget, with its massive surplus, was going to bring "home the bacon".

The Guardian - Opinion

Too many farmers were left singing about "the problem of a good year" – lots of surplus produce rotting before they see a market.

The Guardian

"We've both said there was a current deficit at the time and ideally that should have been in surplus," she told Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. Cooper and her husband, Ed Balls, were Treasury ministers at times in the Labour government.

The Guardian

But given the importance of revenue growth for charting the path back to surplus, and the high importance placed on strong income and company tax growth, it won't take many bumps in either the domestic or international economy to make that path rockier than Joe Hockey would like.

The Guardian - Business

Income tax receipts jumped 6.1% to £26.7bn, pushing the public finances £8.8bn into the black for the month – the largest monthly surplus since 2008.

The Guardian - Business

In March, he was inhibited from indulging his worst instincts by the presence of the Lib Dems; now he has no Danny Alexander standing in the way of his plans to bash the poor and dispossessed even harder, in the absurd pursuit of a budget surplus for the sake of it.

The Guardian

Party members have complained about the printing of surplus ballot papers, irregularities in the voters' roll, traditional leaders "frogmarching" villagers to the polls, people feigning illiteracy to be "assisted", voters being bussed to faraway constituencies, and the malign influence of the military.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial matters, be specific about what type of "surplus" you're referring to (e.g., budget surplus, trade surplus) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't use "surplus" interchangeably with "profit". "Surplus" refers to the amount exceeding what's needed, while "profit" is the financial gain from a transaction or investment.

Linguistic Context

The word "surplus" primarily functions as a noun, denoting an amount or quantity that is more than what is needed or used. It can also function as an adjective to describe something that constitutes a surplus. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and broad usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

20%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "surplus" is a common term used to describe an excess amount, most often in contexts related to finances or resources. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is correct and usable in written English. It functions primarily as a noun, but can also be an adjective. Common usages include "budget surplus", "trade surplus", or a "surplus" of goods. When writing about surpluses, clarity is key: specify the type of "surplus" to avoid ambiguity. While "surplus" indicates an excess, it should not be confused with "profit", which refers to financial gain. Related phrases include "excess amount", "remaining balance", and "extra quantity".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excess amount

Emphasizes the quantity exceeding what is needed.

remaining balance

Focuses on the balance left after deductions or expenses.

extra quantity

Highlights the presence of an additional or spare quantity.

overabundance

Suggests a plentiful or excessive amount.

reserve stock

Implies a stored supply exceeding immediate needs.

oversupply

Indicates a supply greater than demand.

budget excess

Specifically refers to an excess in budgetary funds.

financial leeway

Suggests having extra financial resources available.

spare capacity

Focuses on available capacity beyond current needs.

excess inventory

Specifically indicates an overstock of goods.

FAQs

How to use "surplus" in a sentence?

You can use "surplus" to describe an excess of something, such as "The company had a budget surplus this year" or "There was a surplus of food at the event".

What can I say instead of "surplus"?

You can use alternatives like "excess amount", "remaining balance", or "extra quantity" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "surplus" or "deficit"?

"Surplus" indicates an excess, while "deficit" indicates a shortage. They are antonyms used to describe financial or resource availability.

What's the difference between "surplus" and "reserve"?

"Surplus" refers to an amount exceeding immediate needs, while "reserve" implies a quantity set aside for future use, which may or may not represent an excess.