Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
I was costing
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "I was costing" is grammatically correct but may not be commonly used in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the act of calculating or estimating costs in the past. Example: "Last week, I was costing the materials needed for the project to ensure we stay within budget."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
"I think they kicked me out because I was costing too much money".
News & Media
Even the coach said the most I was costing the college was two track shoes a year".
News & Media
I didn't play my best game today,' or, 'I haven't been playing my best hockey,' but it was never to the point where I was so bad to the point I was costing my team games.
News & Media
It was all about the bottom line and I was costing them money.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
The separating hyperplane, wx + b, can be found by numerically solving the following quadratic optimization problem: Where C and ξ i are cost parameters associated with misclassification, and ϕ(x i) is a non-linear mapping function.
Science
"You know, I was worried that it was costing a lot of dough.
News & Media
He adds: "I'm costing the government much more now, in healthcare costs and welfare benefits, because I'm ill and out of work.
News & Media
He is bearing a certain amount of guilt for still costing the system money due to his delayed recovery: 'I'm costing the public system.
Science
where C i is cost of i th path that has n links, B j is bandwidth on link j, D j is delay of link j, and R j is reliability of link j.
Let c i be cost-effectiveness ratio of intervention i expressed in $ per DALY gained.
Acceptability curves illustrate the probability that any particular intervention (i) is cost-effective or has a positive net health benefit, conditional on the willingness to pay per DALY.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "I was costing", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being assessed in terms of cost. Be specific about what resources or aspects are being evaluated.
Common error
Avoid using "I was costing" without clearly specifying what you were costing. For example, instead of saying "I was costing", specify "I was costing the company money" to provide clarity.
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "I was costing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action that resulted in a financial burden or expense. Ludwig shows examples where the phrase indicates the speaker's actions led to increased costs for an organization or entity.
Frequent in
News & Media
75%
Science
25%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "I was costing" is used to convey that the speaker's actions or presence led to expenses or financial implications. Although Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically sound, it is relatively rare in formal writing. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly specifies what you were costing. While it appears predominantly in news and media, its neutral register makes it suitable for various situations. Alternatives like "I was generating expenses" or "I was proving expensive" may provide a more descriptive nuance depending on the intended message.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
I was generating expenses
Emphasizes the creation or accrual of expenses.
I was proving expensive
Highlights the characteristic of being costly.
I was incurring charges
Focuses on the act of becoming subject to charges or fees.
I was representing a loss
Shifts the focus to the financial impact, implying a deficit.
I was creating financial burden
Emphasizes the weight or strain caused by the expense.
I was racking up bills
Implies an accumulation of debt or charges.
I was leading to expenditure
Focuses on causing or resulting in spending.
I was becoming a liability
Suggests that the speaker is turning into something burdensome.
I was resulting in debits
Focuses on the accounting aspect, indicating entries of debit.
I was causing a drain on resources
Highlights the depletion of available resources.
FAQs
How can I use "I was costing" in a sentence?
Use "I was costing" to indicate that your actions or presence resulted in an expense or financial impact. For example: "I think they kicked me out because "I was costing" too much money".
What does "I was costing" mean?
"I was costing" means that the speaker's presence or actions were resulting in expenses or financial burdens for someone or something else.
Which is a better alternative to "I was costing": "I cost" or "I was costing"?
The choice between "I cost" and "I was costing" depends on the context. "I cost" implies a general or ongoing expense, while "I was costing" refers to a specific situation in the past. Example: "Even the coach said the most "I was costing" the college was two track shoes a year".
What can I say instead of "I was costing"?
You can use alternatives like "I was generating expenses", "I was proving expensive", or "I was incurring charges" depending on the context.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested