straight from investopedia page...same info on IRS website and what I do EVERY year...idk what the argument is here...
"Example - Offsetting Capital Gains
If an investor makes a bad choice and loses $2,000 on a stock and later in the same year, the investor makes a good investment and earns $3,000, these two transactions will partially offset each other. After netting the two transactions, the investor will only face taxes on $1,000 of the $3,000 gain. If losses exceed gains during the year, the losses can offset up to $3,000 of taxable income. After the total of all gains and $3,000 of income is offset, if losses remain, they can be carried over to offset the next year\'s income."
