was offset by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was offset by" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to show that two or more things that were going in opposite directions were made to be even, or equal. For example: "The increase in taxes was offset by a decrease in government spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was offset by strong performances elsewhere.

The Guardian - Business

It paid its way – new spending was offset by cuts.

The Guardian

However, the strong UK performance was offset by problems abroad.

The Guardian - Business

"That fall was offset by the rise in government insurance".

The New York Times

But that negative effect was offset by several positives.

The Washington Post

A nascent housing recovery was offset by setbacks in manufacturing.

The New York Times

The use of new mobilizing tools was offset by a greater fear of violence.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Heine saw that the humiliation of the Jews was offset by a moral serenity, and that their moral serenity was offset by acute political vulnerability.

The Washington Post

The $988 million was offset by earnings that reduced the quarterly loss to $640 million.

The New York Times

But that news was offset by an uptick in wages, Mr. Hyman said.

The New York Times

But this was offset by decreases in strength among younger millennial women.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was offset by" to clearly show how one factor reduces the impact of another, creating a sense of balance or equilibrium in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was offset by" when the relationship isn't a direct counteraction; ensure the offsetting element genuinely diminishes the impact of the original factor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was offset by" functions as a passive construction indicating that a particular effect or outcome was diminished or counteracted by another factor. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

23%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was offset by" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to express the idea of counteracting or balancing effects. As confirmed by Ludwig, this construction is widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using "was offset by", ensure there is a genuine counteraction relationship. For alternatives, consider phrases like "was counterbalanced by" or "was mitigated by" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was counterbalanced by

Emphasizes the idea of opposing forces achieving equilibrium.

was balanced out by

Directly conveys the concept of achieving a state of equilibrium.

was mitigated by

Highlights the reduction or lessening of a negative effect.

was evened out by

Similar to 'balanced out,' but with an emphasis on making things equal.

was neutralized by

Focuses on the cancellation or nullification of an effect.

was counteracted by

Highlights an action taken to oppose or negate an effect.

was compensated by

Indicates that something was made up for or balanced out.

was lessened by

Focuses on the idea that something was decreased or diminished.

was attenuated by

Suggests a weakening or reduction in intensity.

was undermined by

Shows that something was damaged or weakened by something else, which can be offset.

FAQs

How can I use "was offset by" in a sentence?

Use "was offset by" to show how one thing reduces or cancels out the effect of another. For example, "The initial loss "was offset by" increased sales later in the year."

What are some alternatives to using "was offset by"?

You can use alternatives like "was counterbalanced by", "was mitigated by", or "was neutralized by" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "offset by" instead of "was offset by"?

While "offset by" can be used, "was offset by" is often preferred in formal writing to clearly indicate the passive voice and the relationship between two counteracting elements.

What's the difference between ""was offset by"" and "was outweighed by"?

""was offset by"" suggests a balance or cancellation of effects, while "was outweighed by" indicates that one factor was more significant or impactful than the other.