Say it like this
- Net-net, we're on track.
- So what's the net-net here?
- Net-net, the change saves us about $2k a month.
Use it at work
Summarising
- Net-net, we're on track.
- Bottom line: we need one more week.
Asking for the point
- What's the net-net?
- So what does this mean for us?
Plain alternative
- Overall, the results are good.
- In short, it worked.
Don't say this
Net-net introduces the conclusion, not the background.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| net-net | the final result (spoken) | US corporate | summaries in meetings |
| bottom line | the most important point | everyone | decisions |
| TL;DR | a one-line summary (written) | tech chat | long messages |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. You want to end a long update with the conclusion. What do you say?
2. Lots of ups and downs this quarter, but _______, revenue is up 5%.
3. Which sentence uses 'net-net' correctly?
4. Rewrite in plain English without 'net-net': 'Net-net, the launch went well.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Net-net, we're on track."
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More about net-net
Real examples(3)
- ending a status update
"We lost two days to the outage but gained them back. Net-net, we're on schedule."
- asking for a summary
"Lots of detail here. What's the net-net for the customer?"
- in a budget review
"Net-net, moving to reserved instances cuts our cloud bill by 18%."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. "Net-net" is US corporate jargon that some people dislike. "Overall" is safer.
- ✕The net net net result✓The net-net / the net result
Only two "nets".
- ✕Net-net (in a formal report)✓Overall, the project is on budget.
It is spoken jargon. Use "overall" in writing.
Other forms(2)
- the net-net noun
"What's the net-net?"
- net adjective
"The net effect is positive."
Often used with(3)
- net-net, · introducing a conclusion
- what's the net-net? · asking for the summary
- the net-net is · stating the bottom line
Similar words(3)
- bottom line · business, common
- overall · neutral, works in writing
- TL;DR · written chat
Opposites(2)
- the details
- the deep dive
Questions(4)
- What does net-net mean?
- The final result or bottom line after everything is considered.
- Where does net-net come from?
- From finance, where "net" means what remains after deductions.
- Is net-net formal?
- No, it is spoken corporate jargon, mostly in the US. Use "overall" in formal writing.
- What can I say instead of net-net?
- "Overall", "in short", "the bottom line is" or, in chat, "TL;DR".
