Proving very expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Proving very expensive" is not correct in standard English.
It seems to be missing a subject or context to clarify what is proving expensive. Example: "The new project is proving very expensive, exceeding our initial budget."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nonetheless, a report on the quality of the walls around 1460 noted that on the north and east sides of Southampton, the walls were still too thin to block a cannon shot or for a man to stand on them; a wood and earth wall-walk had been built behind the walls, but this was proving very expensive to maintain.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Implementations of mini hydro schemes with conventional hydraulic, electrical equipment's and controllers have proven very expensive and uneconomical.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Transporting prisoners around the state would prove very expensive, according to a study prepared by the county.

The New York Times

For a player like Google or anybody else delivering media over the net, that could prove very expensive.

The Guardian - Tech

The knock-on effects of the decision could prove very expensive for local and central government should he end up losing his home.

The Guardian - Money

Greece owes €320bn, most of it to eurozone governments, and a full default will prove very expensive for the others, not least Germany which has €92bn at stake.

The Guardian

That process takes a long time to implement and can prove very expensive, given the wide variety of motivational needs in any large company.

Harvard Business Review

Given that downstate New York is densely populated, its homes are expensive and its topography low-lying, a powerful hurricane could prove very expensive for major insurers, like Allstate, that are already reeling from last year's losses, Ms. Conte said.

The New York Times

For all the talk of economic opportunities of the green economy, bringing down greenhouse gas emissions on the scale required is likely to prove very expensive, especially in the near-term.

The Guardian

Fighting this war may have been necessary, but it has also proved very expensive: the west has much more to do to support Pakistan's nascent democracy in delivering its election promises of employment, health and education.

The Guardian - Opinion

They worry that the rapid build-up of direct payments to eastern farmers over ten years will prove very expensive very fast and make the long-promised reform of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy all but impossible.In this section Is the venture now in peril?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is "proving very expensive". Avoid using the phrase in isolation without context.

Common error

Avoid using "proving very expensive" without a clear subject or context. Always specify what is incurring the high costs to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proving very expensive" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as a predicate in a sentence. It describes a process or state where something is turning out to be unexpectedly costly. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase needs a subject to be grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proving very expensive" is a verb phrase indicating that something is turning out to be unexpectedly costly. However, Ludwig AI notes that the phrase is improved by explicitly adding a subject. While the phrase appears in various contexts like news, science, and wikis, its usage frequency is rare and can benefit from more precise wording. Alternatives such as "turning out to be very costly" or "becoming quite expensive" may provide more clarity and grammatical correctness. Always specify what is incurring the high costs to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Turning out to be very costly

Changes the verb to 'turning out' to emphasize the result of something being expensive.

Becoming quite expensive

Replaces 'proving' with 'becoming' to indicate a gradual increase in cost.

Found to be highly expensive

Uses 'found to be' to indicate a discovery of the high cost.

Demonstrating high costs

Replaces 'proving' with 'demonstrating', focusing on the act of showing the high costs.

Emerging as a high expense

Focuses on the gradual unfolding of the expense.

Representing a significant financial burden

Shifts from 'proving' to 'representing', emphasizing the financial impact.

Incurring substantial costs

Highlights the act of incurring the costs rather than the process of proving them.

Resulting in considerable expenditure

Focuses on the outcome of the expenditure being considerable.

Carrying a hefty price tag

Uses a more informal and figurative expression to convey high cost.

Entailing significant financial outlay

Highlights the financial outlay involved.

FAQs

What does "proving very expensive" mean?

The phrase "proving very expensive" indicates that something is turning out to be more costly than initially expected. It implies a process of discovery regarding the high expenses involved.

What can I say instead of "proving very expensive"?

You can use alternatives like "turning out to be very costly", "becoming quite expensive", or "found to be highly expensive" depending on the context.

How to use "proving very expensive" in a sentence?

To use "proving very expensive" effectively, include a subject to clarify what is incurring the cost. For example, "The construction project is proving very expensive."

What's the difference between "proving very expensive" and "very expensive"?

"Very expensive" simply states that something has a high cost. "Proving very expensive" implies that the high cost is being discovered or becoming apparent over time.