thin savings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thin savings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has very little money saved or a small amount of financial resources available. Example: "After months of unexpected expenses, I found myself with thin savings and had to reconsider my budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thin savings appear to leave households exposed to even modest economic shocks.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Instead of using an old-school fluorescent tube to illuminate the LCD screen, these new TVs use bright, thin, energy-saving light emitting diodes.

Forbes

She battled breast cancer and thinned out her savings paying for trips to Washington and abroad while advocating for her son.

The New York Times

Roll-to-roll (R2R) solution processing of thin film devices offers savings to cost, time, and material waste.

Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification

(Plus, the hardware savings of thin clients is constantly eroding as more low-end PCs emerge at the sub-$350 price point).

Forbes

Now we are taking ever-so-thin slices from our savings, canceling unaffordable health insurance policies, patching up the old car and hurting for our job-seeking children.

The New York Times

Saving, not savings.

The New York Times

The software doesn't create tax savings out of thin air.

Huffington Post

This space saving option is thin, but tall enough to still be eye-catching.

Independent

This car might not reap the weight-saving benefits of thin sheetmetal, like the Donohue racecars it evokes, but it does have thinner rear window glass.

BBC

A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of microCT with the conventional and still widespread method of thin-sectioning shows a great savings in time and labor in favor of microCT (Table 3).

Applications in Plant Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's financial situation, use "thin savings" to convey they have very little money saved, making them vulnerable to unexpected expenses.

Common error

Avoid using "thin savings" when the context suggests the savings are merely adequate but not abundant. "Thin" implies a concerning lack of resources, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thin savings" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "thin" modifies the noun "savings". It describes the state of having a small amount of financial resources. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thin savings" is a phrase used to describe a situation where someone has a limited amount of money saved. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable. While grammatically sound and easily understood, it's important to use it accurately to reflect a concerning lack of financial resources. Alternatives like "meager savings" or "scant savings" can be used for variety. This expression is most frequently found in news and media contexts, often highlighting economic vulnerability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meager savings

Replaces "thin" with "meager", emphasizing the small quantity of savings.

scant savings

Uses "scant" instead of "thin", highlighting the insufficiency of savings.

limited savings

Emphasizes the restricted amount of savings available.

small savings

A more direct and simple way to express the limited amount of savings.

insufficient savings

Highlights that the savings are not enough for a particular purpose.

dwindling savings

Suggests that savings are decreasing over time.

depleted savings

Indicates that savings have been significantly reduced or exhausted.

modest savings

Replaces "thin" with "modest" to describe savings that are not substantial.

razor-thin savings

Adds emphasis to how little the savings are by using "razor-thin".

exiguous savings

Replaces "thin" with the less common "exiguous", implying a very small amount.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "thin savings" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "meager savings", "scant savings", or "limited savings". These options provide a similar meaning while maintaining a professional register.

Is it appropriate to use "thin savings" in academic writing?

While "thin savings" is understandable, academic writing often benefits from more precise language. Depending on the context, phrases such as "insufficient funds", "limited financial resources", or "inadequate capital reserves" might be more suitable.

What are some alternatives to "thin savings" that emphasize a decreasing amount?

To highlight the depletion of savings, use phrases like "dwindling savings" or "depleted savings". These options convey the idea that the savings are diminishing over time.

When is it best to use "thin savings" over other similar phrases?

"Thin savings" is suitable when you want to emphasize the vulnerability and precariousness of having very little money saved. It suggests a higher level of risk compared to phrases like "modest savings", which simply describe the size without implying immediate concern.