What is deduct? Pronunciation and usage in English

deduct means . Learn how to pronounce and use deduct through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of deduct

deductverb

/dɪˈdʌkt//dɪˈdʌkt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "deduct." It can be tricky! Here's a breakdown with phonetic transcriptions and tips:

1. Phonetic Transcription (IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet):

ˈded.ʌkt

2. Breakdown & Explanation:

  • ˈded: This part is relatively straightforward. It rhymes with "bed" or "red." The stress is on this syllable.
  • ʌkt: This is the trickiest part.
    • ʌ: This is a short "uh" sound, like in "but" or "sun." It's important to keep it short and not draw it out.
    • kt: This is pronounced as a “kt” sound – like the “k” in “kite” followed immediately by “t.”

3. How to Say it (Step-by-Step):

  1. Start with the "ded" sound: Say "ded" with a short "uh" sound in the middle, as in "bed."
  2. Add the "kt" sound: Quickly add "kt" – like "kite" followed immediately by "t."

4. Common Mispronunciations & How to Avoid Them:

  • Over-emphasizing the "u" sound: Many people add a long "oo" sound to the end (like "deduct-oo"). Don’t do this! Keep it short and “uh.”
  • Saying "de-duct": This separates the words. Remember it’s one word.
  • Adding an extra "e" sound: Avoid saying anything like “de-educt.”

5. Listen to Examples:

  • Google Search: Search “how to pronounce ‘deduct’” on Google or YouTube. You’ll find many audio examples.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/deduct/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.

Resources:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Are you having trouble with a specific part of the word (e.g., just the "kt" sound or the "uh" sound)?

Usage and examples with the word deduct in English

Let's break down how to use the word "deduct" in English. It’s a versatile word with a few different meanings, so understanding the context is key.

1. Core Meaning: To Subtract or Take Away

At its most basic, "deduct" means to subtract an amount from something else. This is the most common usage.

  • Examples:
    • "The company will deduct the cost of the training from the employee's salary." (Subtracting the cost from the salary)
    • "You need to deduct sales tax from the price of the item." (Taking sales tax away from the price)
    • "He deducted $50 from his account to pay for the concert ticket." (Subtracting the money)

2. Accounting/Finance – Official Removal

In accounting and finance, "deduct" has a more specific meaning: to remove an amount from a sum according to a set rule or regulation. This usually involves taxes, allowances, or other agreed-upon reductions.

  • Examples:
    • "The government deducts income tax from your paycheck." (Legally removing taxes)
    • "You can deduct certain medical expenses on your tax return." (Removing eligible expenses from your taxable income)
    • "The rules deduct a standard mileage rate for business travel." (Applying a standardized amount)

3. To Infer or Conclude (Less Common)

"Deduct" can also mean to infer or conclude something based on evidence or reasoning. This usage is less frequent and often sounds a bit formal.

  • Examples:
    • "The detective deducted that the suspect was lying based on his nervous behavior." (Inferred the lie)
    • “Scientists deduct the cause of a disease by studying the symptoms and test results.” (Concluded the cause)

Key Words and Phrases Associated with "Deduct":

  • Deduction: The act of deducting; the amount that is deducted. ("The deduction was $100.")
  • Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance covers the rest. (“The deductible for health insurance is $500.”)
  • Deductible amount: The amount taken away. (“The company deductible amount each month is 10% of your salary.”)

Tips for Using "Deduct" Correctly:

  • Context is Crucial: Pay close attention to the surrounding words to understand which meaning of "deduct" is intended.
  • Formal Tone: "Deduct" tends to sound more formal than words like "subtract" or "take away."
  • Be Precise: When used in accounting, it's important to be accurate with the specific rules and regulations.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • In what kind of context are you trying to use "deduct"? (e.g., writing a report, talking to a friend, etc.)

Synonyms for the word deduct

Practice with vocabulary deduct

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The accounting department will automatically ________ the monthly subscription fee from your account.
  2. Based on the preliminary findings, we can ________ that the project timeline needs to be revised.
  3. When processing returns, many retailers ________ a restocking fee from the refund amount.
  4. The goal of the new energy policy is to significantly ________ the carbon footprint of the manufacturing plant.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. When an organization reduces an amount from a total, especially for formal or financial reasons, it might: a) Increase b) Deduct c) Add d) Subtract e) Withhold

  2. You can often ________ business expenses from your gross income to lower your tax liability. a) claim b) declare c) deduct d) offset e) reduce

  3. If a customer returns a damaged item, the store might ________ a repair cost from the refund. a) charge b) deduct c) refund d) retain e) reduce

  4. Based on the lack of communication from the client, we can ________ that they are no longer interested in the proposal. a) infer b) assume c) imply d) conclude e) postpone

  5. The company decided to ________ the amount of waste produced by 15% through new recycling initiatives. a) amplify b) diminish c) expand d) reduce e) lower

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Employees can remove certain work-related expenses from their gross income before calculating tax. Rewrite using "deduct": ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  2. Original: The final payment was smaller because a portion had been held back for taxes. Rewrite using a related form of "deduct": ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  3. Original: We were able to figure out from the evidence that the suspect had an alibi. Rewrite not using "deduct": ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. deduct
  2. conclude
  3. deduct
  4. reduce

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) Deduct, d) Subtract, e) Withhold
  2. c) deduct, d) offset, e) reduce
  3. b) deduct, d) retain, e) reduce
  4. a) infer, b) assume, d) conclude
  5. b) diminish, d) reduce, e) lower

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Employees can deduct certain work-related expenses from their gross income before calculating tax.
  2. The final payment included a tax deduction.
  3. From the evidence, we were able to infer that the suspect had an alibi.

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