turned a profit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turned a profit" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business context to indicate that a company or venture has generated more revenue than expenses, resulting in a financial gain. Example: "After several months of hard work, the startup finally turned a profit, allowing them to reinvest in their growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Backing the opposition turned a profit of £76.

Independent

Neither firm has ever turned a profit.

The Economist

It turned a profit the first month.

The New York Times

The unit never turned a profit.

The New York Times

None have turned a profit.

MIT Technology Review

And, yes, turned a profit.

The New York Times

It never turned a profit.

The New York Times

The company has never turned a profit.

The New York Times

Why TiVo has never turned a profit.

MIT Technology Review

But he never turned a profit.

The Guardian - Music

So Amazon.com Inc. actually turned a profit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a company's financial performance, use "turned a profit" to indicate a shift from losses to gains. It's particularly effective when highlighting a turnaround.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses, such as "turns a profit" when referring to a past event. Ensure the tense aligns with the time frame you're describing. For example, use "turned a profit" for a past achievement and "is turning a profit" for ongoing profitability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turned a profit" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change in financial status. Ludwig AI, confirms its common usage in business and financial contexts, signifying a shift from operating at a loss to generating revenue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "turned a profit" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that an entity has shifted from financial losses to gains. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting its frequent use in news, business, and academic contexts. To ensure clarity, writers should pay attention to tense consistency and understand the nuances of alternatives like "became profitable" or "generated a profit". This phrase effectively communicates financial success and is a valuable tool in business and financial writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became profitable

Replaces "turned" with "became", focusing on the state of being profitable.

generated a profit

Focuses on the act of generating profit, rather than the change in status.

achieved profitability

Highlights the accomplishment of reaching a profitable state.

yielded a profit

Implies that the profit was a result of an investment or effort.

made money

A simpler, more general way of saying a profit was made.

operated at a profit

Focuses on the ongoing state of profitable operation.

showed a profit

Indicates that financial records reflect a profit.

gained a profit

Emphasizes the acquisition of profit.

posted a profit

Commonly used in financial reporting to indicate a profit.

was in the black

An idiomatic expression indicating profitability.

FAQs

What does "turned a profit" mean?

The phrase "turned a profit" means that a business or venture has generated more revenue than expenses, resulting in a financial gain. It signifies a shift from operating at a loss to being profitable.

What can I say instead of "turned a profit"?

You can use alternatives like "became profitable", "generated a profit", or "achieved profitability" depending on the context.

How do I use "turned a profit" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "After years of losses, the company finally turned a profit last quarter." This indicates that the company has shifted from losing money to making money.

Is it correct to say "turn a profit" instead of "turned a profit"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Turn a profit" can be used in future or hypothetical situations, like "The company hopes to turn a profit next year." "Turned a profit" is used for past events, such as "The company turned a profit in 2024".