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.
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
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| business revenue in common British usage | takings | Use “takings” for money received by a business in the documented UK sense. |
| business revenue in common US usage | receipts | Use “receipts” for the comparable documented US sense. |
| written proof of payment | receipt | This is a different ordinary sense of “receipt,” not a regional synonym for “takings.” |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you referring specifically to money received by a business and writing for a UK audience?
If yes: Use “takings.”
If no: For the comparable US business-revenue sense, “receipts” is common; if you mean proof of payment, use “receipt” in that separate sense.
Caveat: The regional comparison applies to the business-revenue sense only; “receipt” has other common meanings that should not be collapsed into this pair.
Examples
The shop’s takings were higher on Saturday.
“Takings” is the documented British business-revenue term.
The store’s receipts increased during the holiday period.
“Receipts” is used in the corresponding US business-revenue sense.
Keep the receipt in case you need to return the item.
Here “receipt” means written proof of payment, a different sense.
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.
- 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.