What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
remaining
Example
I ate half the pizza, and the remaining slices are in the fridge. [remaining: adjective]
Example
We have 10 minutes remaining before the meeting starts. [remaining: present participle]
surplus
Example
The company had a surplus of inventory that they needed to sell off. [surplus: noun]
Example
After paying all my bills, I had a surplus of money left over. [surplus: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Remaining is more common in everyday language than surplus. Remaining can be used in various contexts, while surplus is more specialized and often used in the context of business or finance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between remaining and surplus?
Surplus is more formal than remaining. It is often used in the context of business or finance, where a more formal tone is appropriate. Remaining is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
