total outlays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "total outlays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial contexts to refer to the total amount of money spent or disbursed over a specific period. Example: "The company's total outlays for the fiscal year exceeded their budget projections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

From 2000 to 2009 spending on drugs grew at a slightly slower pace than total outlays on health.

The Economist

The fund's own operating costs ate up 40 to 50percentt of total outlays, whereas investment funds in developed markets usually spend only 2to4percentent.

The New York Times

Medicare spent $146 million on Camptosar last year, according to the spokeswoman, who did not have information on total outlays for the other drugs under review.

The New York Times

Several categories of spending are expected to decline this year, both in total dollars and percentage of total outlays, including building maintenance and school safety.

The New York Times

In the three years to 2010-11, toutlaystlays will rise in real terms by just 2.0% a year, less than average GDP growth of 2.5%.

The Economist

And the scope for slashing non-defence discretionary spending is limited, since it makes up merely one-sixth of total outlays.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The total outlay has been less than £7m.

The Guardian - Sport

Asked if the total outlay would break $2,000, Mr. Reid said, "Maybe..

The New York Times

"I just wanted to buy extra," she said, estimating her total outlay at about $100.

The Guardian - Music

If Rojo, Di María and Blind were landed, United's total outlay would be more than £80m.

The Guardian - Sport

That brought LVMH's total outlay to $1.1 billion for its Fendi stake.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing government or organizational budgets, use "total outlays" to clearly represent the overall expenditure within a specific timeframe. Be sure to specify the period.

Common error

Don't use "total outlays" when you actually mean net spending. "Total outlays" refers to the gross amount spent, while net spending accounts for revenues or offsets. Clarify which one you intend to use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total outlays" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It refers to the overall amount of money spent or disbursed. As seen in Ludwig, it often appears in financial reports or analyses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total outlays" is a common noun phrase used to describe the total amount of money spent or disbursed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance in financial and economic reporting across diverse, authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist. While often interchangeable with "total expenditures" or "total expenses", it's crucial to distinguish it from net spending. When using this term, clarity and context are key to ensure accurate communication of financial information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

total expenditures

Replaces "outlays" with "expenditures", focusing on the act of spending.

total expenses

Substitutes "outlays" with "expenses", emphasizing the cost aspect.

aggregate spending

Uses "aggregate" to highlight the combined nature of spending.

overall costs

Replaces "outlays" with "costs", focusing on the financial burden.

total disbursements

Employs "disbursements" to specify the act of paying out money.

complete financial commitment

Highlights the encompassing nature of the financial obligation.

full expenditure amount

Specifies that it's the total amount being spent.

entire financial outlay

Adds emphasis with "entire" and uses a more formal tone.

total cash outflow

Focuses on the movement of cash out of an entity.

cumulative financial impact

Highlights the long-term effects of the spending.

FAQs

What does "total outlays" mean in financial terms?

In financial contexts, "total outlays" refers to the total amount of money spent or disbursed by an entity, such as a government, organization, or individual, over a specific period. It represents the gross expenditure before any deductions or offsets.

How does "total outlays" differ from "total expenditures"?

The terms "total outlays" and "total expenditures" are often used interchangeably. However, "total outlays" may sometimes imply a broader scope, including not only expenses but also investments or other forms of disbursement.

What are some alternatives to using "total outlays" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "total expenses", "aggregate spending", or "overall costs" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "total outlays" in both formal and informal writing?

While "total outlays" is generally appropriate for formal writing, especially in financial and economic contexts, it might sound somewhat technical in informal settings. In those cases, simpler terms like "total spending" or "overall expenses" may be more suitable.