Cover the costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Cover the costs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing financial responsibilities or obligations, particularly in contexts where one party is expected to pay for expenses incurred by another. Example: "The company agreed to cover the costs of the employee's travel expenses for the conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

won't cover the costs.

The New York Times - Magazine

The fare does not cover the costs.

The New York Times

Insurance should cover the costs, Patz says.

The Washington Post

We can barely cover the costs of the fuel".

Independent

Even so, Mr. Chernov said, tuition didn't cover the costs.

The New York Times - Arts

"The revenue from the Champions League will cover the costs".

Independent

'They don't have enough to cover the costs of living.

The Guardian

(Both pay rent to their parents to cover the costs).

The New York Times

The federal government will cover the costs, Jenkins said.

The Guardian

The Egyptian tourist authorities will cover the costs.

The Guardian

Executives turned to a wealthy donor to cover the costs.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cover the costs" when you want to clearly state who is responsible for paying specific expenses. It's straightforward and widely understood.

Common error

Avoid assuming "cover the costs" means all expenses are paid. Specify which costs are included to prevent confusion and potential disputes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cover the costs" functions as a verb phrase. It typically expresses the action of providing sufficient funds to meet expenses or financial obligations, as evidenced by Ludwig examples showing insurance policies and budgets.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cover the costs" is a versatile and frequently used expression that denotes the act of providing funds to meet expenses. According to Ludwig, it’s considered grammatically correct and appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, specify the scope of expenses being covered to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives such as "meet the expenses" or "foot the bill" can be used for variety. Ludwig's analysis underscores its utility in both formal and informal communication, making it an essential phrase for everyday language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet the expenses

Focuses on having enough resources to pay, similar to covering the costs.

shoulder the expenses

Emphasizes bearing the responsibility of paying the costs.

foot the bill

An idiomatic way of saying to pay the total amount due.

bear the financial burden

Highlights the impact of the expenses being paid.

defray the expenses

Implies providing money to offset the costs.

take care of the payments

Highlights managing or handling the payments.

settle the accounts

Focuses on resolving the financial obligations.

be responsible for the payments

Emphasizes the obligation to pay.

clear the financial obligations

Focuses on eliminating debt by paying.

handle the financial responsibilities

Highlights overseeing and managing payments.

FAQs

What does "cover the costs" mean?

The phrase "cover the costs" means to provide enough money to pay for expenses or financial obligations. It implies responsibility for ensuring that all associated expenses are taken care of.

What can I say instead of "cover the costs"?

You can use alternatives like "meet the expenses", "foot the bill", or "shoulder the expenses" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "cover the cost" instead of "cover the costs"?

While grammatically correct, "cover the cost" implies paying for a singular expense. "Cover the costs" is used when referring to multiple or ongoing expenses.

In what situations is "cover the costs" typically used?

"Cover the costs" is frequently used in discussions about insurance, budgeting, business, and finance, or any situation where payment responsibility needs to be clearly stated. For example, you might say "The insurance will "cover the costs" of the repair" or "We need to find ways to "cover the costs" of the project".