zero out

USAGE SUMMARY

“zero out” is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to denote the action of reducing an amount to zero. For example, "After I completed the accounting for the month, I zeroed out all of the account balances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Borrow a tip from the wide world of time management and zero out your inbox with the four D system.

HuffPost

Well, you can always put zero in and get zero out, but here you can put other vectors in and get zero out.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If you wanted to get zero out, you had to put zero in.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Presumably not many of the Republican candidates want to zero out all this money.

The New York Times

A proposal to "zero out" money for the Texas Commission on the Arts was brushed aside.

The New Yorker

Mulvaney, showing a libertarian streak, would zero out the block grants altogether.

The Washington Post

Basically, you'll just either zero out some elements of some array (option 0) or you'll increment them (option 1).

University of California, Berkeley

When we zero out that social information effect, we see around 70percentt decline in community fish consumption.

Yale University

I always zero out my balance each month.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I received a zero [out of 50] in my first two electronics classes," he laughs.

The New York Times

They could point out that Republicans would take $19 billion from veterans and zero-out energy spending.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "zero out" in technical contexts (e.g., programming, finance), be precise about what you are zeroing out. Specify the data, accounts, or parameters being reset.

Common error

Avoid using "zero out" when a partial reduction is intended. "Zero out" implies a complete reset to zero, not a partial decrease. Use more specific language for partial reductions.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "zero out" functions primarily as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It describes the action of reducing something to zero or completely erasing/overwriting it. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use with objects like "inbox", "balance", and "array".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "zero out" is a versatile phrasal verb primarily used to describe the action of reducing something to zero or completely erasing data. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears frequently in News & Media and Academia, as revealed by Ludwig's analysis of real-world examples. While the register is generally neutral, its formality level can shift from professional to informal depending on the specific context. When using "zero out", ensure you clearly define what is being reduced to zero and avoid using it when only a partial reduction is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Cancel out

Highlights the act of opposing forces neutralizing each other.

Reduce to nothing

Focuses on the end result of complete reduction, regardless of the method.

Eliminate entirely

Highlights the removal of something completely, leaving no trace.

Erase completely

Focuses on the total deletion or obliteration of something.

Nullify the effect of

Emphasizes negating or canceling out a specific impact or influence.

Wipe clean

Suggests a thorough removal or clearing, as if erasing a surface.

Negate entirely

Similar to nullify, but with a stronger emphasis on denial or invalidation.

Reset to default

Implies returning something to its original or initial state.

Clear the slate

Implies starting fresh by removing past issues or debts.

Bring to naught

Focuses on the failure of an endeavor so that it yields no positive results, similar to making it zero.

FAQs

How do I use "zero out" in a sentence?

You can use "zero out" to describe reducing a quantity to zero, such as "I need to "zero out" my bank balance to avoid fees", or to describe overwriting data, such as "We should "zero out" the hard drive before recycling the computer".

What's a more formal alternative to "zero out"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "reduce to zero", "nullify", or "eliminate". For example, instead of saying ""zero out" the budget", you could say "reduce the budget to zero".

Is it correct to say "zeroed out" or should I use another tense?

Both "zero out" (present tense) and "zeroed out" (past tense) are correct, depending on the context. Use "zero out" for present or future actions (e.g., "I will "zero out" the account tomorrow") and "zeroed out" for past actions (e.g., "I "zeroed out" the account yesterday").

What is the difference between "zero out" and "wipe clean"?

"Zero out" often refers to setting a numerical value or data to zero, whereas "wipe clean" generally implies a more thorough removal of all traces or contents. You "zero out" a bank account, but you wipe clean a hard drive.