English UsageComparison guide

Receipts vs. Takings

“Takings” and “receipts” can be regional equivalents for money a business receives from sales. The equivalence is sense-specific because “receipt” can also mean the document acknowledging payment or the act of receiving something.

Quick answer

In the business-revenue sense, British English commonly uses “takings,” while US English commonly uses “receipts.” “Receipt” also has other senses, including a written proof of payment.

Key details

Confusion Familyregional business vocabulary
Rule Familyregional revenue terminology
Termsreceipts, takings
Variant ScopeThe regional equivalence applies to business revenue, not every sense of receipt.

Further guidance

Core difference

Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary labels “takings” as UK business-revenue vocabulary corresponding to US “receipts.”

Fast Test

When you mean sales revenue, choose the audience-appropriate regional term; when you mean a proof-of-purchase document, “receipt” has a separate sense.

Usage Boundary

Do not treat “takings” as a replacement for every meaning of “receipts.”

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Takings — Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Learner-dictionary evidence that takings is UK business-revenue vocabulary corresponding to US receipts in this sense.

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