well under budget

USAGE SUMMARY

"well under budget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a project or goal was completed for a much lower cost than originally anticipated. For example, "The remodeling project was completed well under budget and finished ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Cost According to Trump, his whole campaign is well "under budget".

Independent

Locke often came in well under budget, yet students still shared textbooks, because the surplus was locked up in some unnecessary line item.

The New Yorker

Whether eradicating deadly diseases like yellow fever, constructing the massive locks and gates that raised and lowered the ships, or disposing of millions of tons of rubble produced by the dynamite and steam shovels that leveled entire mountains, these planners faced down every problem thrown their way, finishing the project ahead of schedule and well under budget.

The New York Times - Books

Seattle, which plans to convert street lights citywide by 2014, has found that the switch to LEDs is already saving taxpayer money, and that falling prices are bringing projects in well under budget – nearly $5 million in the most recent round of installations.

Forbes

And in a traditional political environment, Democrats and Republicans could easily find a compromise, with reforms that each side favors ― and maybe a little extra money, since the program as a whole has come in well under budget.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I ordered 20 skeins for $45, well under my PayPal budget.

The New York Times - Tech

Many businesses do not require more than that, as it allows them to get what they need, while staying well under the average budget.

Forbes

Defense companies including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon rose as investors speculated that they would fare well under an overhauled Pentagon budget.

The New York Times

Foreign aid is actually well under 1.0percentt of the budget.

Huffington Post

The belly was £9.50, so I had to drink tap water to bring it in under budget, but it is well worth that sacrifice to eat such food.

The Guardian - Travel

One Republican political consultant working on House and Senate races admitted "the Ryan budget is well under water," hurting Republican House candidates in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia, as well as Representative Rick Berg of North Dakota, once considered a shoo-in for the Senate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting financial results, quantify how much "well under budget" the project was to highlight success.

Common error

Avoid using "well under budget" when the project merely stayed within the allocated funds. "Well under budget" indicates a noteworthy cost saving, while "on budget" simply means expenses didn't exceed the budget.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well under budget" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It describes the extent to which something (typically a project or expense) is below the anticipated or allocated budget. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is a valid and usable part of the English language.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "well under budget" is a useful phrase to communicate that something cost significantly less than expected. It is grammatically correct and understood in a wide range of contexts, from news reports to academic papers. As Ludwig AI validates, this phrase describes situations where financial targets have been successfully surpassed. Remember to use it to highlight noteworthy savings, and consider alternatives such as "below budget" or "under the estimated cost" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

below budget

Directly indicates that the expenses are lower than the allocated budget.

under the estimated cost

Highlights that the final cost was less than initially projected.

within budget

Emphasizes adherence to the set budget, implying no overspending.

cost-effective

Focuses on the efficiency of resource utilization and value for money.

economical

Suggests careful and efficient use of resources, leading to savings.

frugal

Implies thriftiness and avoidance of unnecessary expenses.

saving money

Directly states the act of reducing expenditure and keeping costs low.

less expensive

A general comparison indicating a lower cost compared to expectations or alternatives.

cheaper than expected

Highlights the pleasant surprise of a lower-than-anticipated cost.

efficient spending

Focuses on how budget can be applied with the highest return on investment.

FAQs

How can I use "well under budget" in a sentence?

You can use "well under budget" to describe a project or activity that cost significantly less than the allocated budget. For example, "The construction project was completed "well under budget", saving the company a substantial amount of money".

What does it mean when a project is "well under budget"?

It means the actual expenses were significantly lower than the amount of money that had been allocated or planned for the project. It indicates efficient financial management.

Are there other ways to say "well under budget"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "below budget", "under the estimated cost", or "within budget", although these may not emphasize the degree of saving as strongly.

How is "well under budget" different from "on budget"?

"On budget" means the project costs matched the allocated budget, while ""well under budget"" means it cost significantly less. The first indicates adherence to the plan; the second indicates a financial benefit.