Computationally expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Computationally expensive" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts related to computer science, mathematics, or algorithms to describe processes that require a significant amount of computational resources, such as time or memory. Example: "The algorithm is computationally expensive, making it impractical for large datasets."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But here, the computationally expensive effect is working in real-time.

The Guardian - Tech

These are computationally expensive.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Curve matching is computationally expensive.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Detailed models are computationally expensive.

Engineering Structures

This method is computationally expensive.

Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering

However, it is computationally expensive.

Computer Vision and Image Understanding

Implementation of radial gradients is computationally expensive.

Journal of Cheminformatics

However, the aggregation process becomes computationally expensive.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Such chains can be computationally expensive.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Together, this means computationally expensive filter updates.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

However, this approach is quite computationally expensive.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an algorithm or process as "computationally expensive", quantify the expense if possible. For example, specify the time complexity or memory requirements.

Common error

Avoid using "computationally expensive" as a vague descriptor. Ensure that the computational cost is genuinely significant compared to alternative methods or available resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "computationally expensive" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying nouns to describe processes, algorithms, or models that require significant computational resources. As shown by Ludwig, it's used to characterize tasks where the processing demands are high.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

87%

News & Media

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "computationally expensive" is a common and grammatically correct descriptor used to indicate that a process or algorithm requires significant computational resources. As Ludwig AI points out, it's particularly prevalent in scientific and technical contexts, signaling potential limitations or trade-offs. Related phrases include "resource-intensive" and "computationally demanding". When using this phrase, quantify the expense if possible to provide more clarity and avoid overstating the computational burden. Although "computationally expensive" generally carries a negative connotation, it is sometimes necessary to achieve higher accuracy or solve complex problems. Overall, understanding the nuances of this phrase allows for more precise and effective communication in technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Computationally intensive

Highlights the high degree of computation involved.

Computationally burdensome

Highlights the burden it places on the system.

Computationally demanding

Stresses the high demands placed on computational resources.

High computational cost

Emphasizes the cost aspect of the computation.

Computationally prohibitive

Similar to prohibitively expensive, but stronger.

Resource-intensive

Focuses on the consumption of resources in general, not specifically computation.

Prohibitively expensive to compute

Indicates that the cost makes computation impractical.

Expensive in terms of computation

A more verbose way of expressing the same idea.

Requires significant processing power

Focuses on the processing power needed.

Time-consuming computation

Specifically refers to the time taken for the computation.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "computationally expensive"?

It means that a particular operation, algorithm, or process requires a significant amount of computational resources, such as processing time, memory, or energy, to execute.

When should I use the phrase "computationally expensive" in my writing?

Use it when you want to emphasize that a method or process consumes a large amount of computational resources and may be impractical for certain applications or datasets. Consider alternatives like "resource-intensive" or "computationally demanding".

Are there situations where alternatives to "computationally expensive" might be more appropriate?

Yes, if you want to emphasize the time aspect, consider "time-consuming computation". If the cost is the primary concern, use "high computational cost". For broader resource usage, "resource-intensive" may be suitable.

Is "computationally expensive" always a negative attribute?

Not necessarily. While it often implies a drawback, sometimes a "computationally expensive" method is necessary to achieve higher accuracy or solve a complex problem that simpler methods cannot handle.