wage cut

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wage cut" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a reduction in an employee's salary or hourly pay. Example: "Due to the company's financial struggles, management announced a wage cut for all employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The union, understandably, rejected the wage cut.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The alarming wage cut did not happen.

The New York Times

Some workers lost their jobs after opposing a wage cut.

Independent

United's pilots have already approved $2.2 billion in concessions that include an 18percentt wage cut.

The New York Times

The blow of relegation will be cushioned by players taking a 50% wage cut.

The Guardian - Sport

1938 Railroads Vote for Wage Cut CHICAGO — The American Association of Railroads today [April 29] voted to put through a horizontal wage cut of 15 per cent, effective July 1.

The New York Times

So in such models you could say that other things equal a wage cut would be expansionary.

The New York Times

If those workers ever do get re-hired, it's not without taking at least a 25 percent wage cut.

The New York Times

By contrast, American workers who reduce hours for family reasons typically lose their benefits and take an hourly wage cut.

The New York Times

Four to six percent inflation, to them, means something close to a four to six percent real wage cut.

The Economist

After accepting a 9% wage cut, Croatian Airlines's staff returned to work on May 22nd after eight days of strikes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a "wage cut", be specific about the percentage or amount of the reduction to provide clarity. For example, instead of saying "The company implemented a wage cut", specify "The company implemented a 10% wage cut".

Common error

Avoid implying that a temporary "wage cut" is permanent unless explicitly stated. Use qualifiers like "temporary" or "for the duration of" to indicate the limited timeframe. For example: "There will be a temporary wage cut during the economic downturn."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wage cut" primarily functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig shows it refers to a reduction in an employee's earnings. It is frequently the subject or object of verbs like 'implement', 'propose', or 'protest'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wage cut" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to a reduction in an employee's compensation. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage, particularly in News & Media and Science. The phrase appears in neutral contexts and serves to inform or report on economic events. While alternatives like "salary reduction" and "pay decrease" exist, "wage cut" remains a straightforward and frequently used term. It's crucial to specify the extent and duration of any "wage cut" for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Pay cut

An abbreviated form of "wage cut".

Salary reduction

Focuses on the formal term for earnings, "salary", and uses the neutral term "reduction".

Pay decrease

Emphasizes the action of lowering the compensation.

Wage reduction

Mirrors "salary reduction" and "income reduction".

Cut in pay

Uses a slightly more direct and less formal term, "pay", and the preposition "in".

Decrease in salary

Mirrors "cut in pay" but uses the more formal term "salary".

Reduced compensation

Highlights that the overall compensation amount has been lowered.

Income decrease

Refers to the total income being reduced, potentially encompassing more than just wages.

Earnings reduction

Similar to salary reduction but can include bonuses or other earnings beyond the base wage.

Pay diminution

A more formal and less common way to describe a decrease in pay.

FAQs

How can I use "wage cut" in a sentence?

You can use "wage cut" to describe a reduction in an employee's compensation. For example, "The workers protested the proposed wage cut."

What's the difference between "wage cut" and "salary reduction"?

While both refer to a decrease in pay, "wage cut" often implies a reduction in hourly or weekly earnings, while "salary reduction" typically refers to a decrease in annual compensation.

What can I say instead of "wage cut"?

Alternatives include "pay decrease", "salary reduction", or "reduced compensation" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "wages cut" instead of "wage cut"?

No, "wages cut" is grammatically incorrect. The correct term is "wage cut", where "wage" acts as an adjective describing the type of cut.