a big costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big costly" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers due to the combination of adjectives. Example: "The project turned out to be a big costly mistake that we couldn't afford."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I protested that it was unsightly, he pointed out that a) getting a "real one" installed was a big, costly job that involved opening up walls; b) it was just a doorbell; and c) the wireless bell more than served its purpose, emitting a two-tone twang when the delivery guy rang with our rotisserie chicken — and who else, besides NYPIRG, ever came calling?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The startup doesn't plan to slow down with its scaling any time soon, so better to begin rolling out the new terminals before it becomes a bigger, costlier undertaking.

TechCrunch

"I see the other airlines, the Deltas, Americans, Continentals, Northwests, bunkering down at their primary hubs" and not making any big, costly moves into Denver, Mr. Mosteller said.

The New York Times

And after spending nearly a decade teaching people to separate their bottles and jars, the city does not plan to embark on any big, costly advertising campaign to publicize the new recycling rules, which will now require that glass and plastics are put in the regular garbage, not in recycling bags with metals.

The New York Times

If HSBC were to move - and that is a very big, costly, politically difficult if - it would be a significant moment for the City and Britain's place as the home of major global banks.

BBC

One of the writings said, "Jesus Christ made a very big, costly mistake by putting white trash people on the face of the earth".

The New York Times

It has made a dash for big, costly projects, just as electricity production is moving to a smaller, more dispersed model with the arrival of renewables.

The Guardian

But beyond that, said Dr. Mears, who called the rise of supermax prisons "a big, very costly experiment," the goals seemed murky.

The New York Times

PAGE A11 A BIG (AND COSTLY) QUESTION No one has put a price tag on how much the attempt to plug the hole in the nation's financial system will cost.

The New York Times

This push to eliminate victims' rights is a big, messy, costly embarrassment, even for the extremist groups this bill represents.

Huffington Post

It is a big and costly problem especially for infants who are born with very low birth weight (VLBW).

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer alternatives like "large and costly" or "very expensive" to avoid potential confusion and improve readability. Using more standard phrasing will enhance the professional tone of your writing.

Common error

Avoid placing "big" directly before "costly" as it creates an unusual and potentially awkward phrasing. Instead, separate the adjectives or use more conventional alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big costly" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, aiming to modify a noun by indicating its size and expense. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this phrasing is not standard and could be improved for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a big costly" aims to describe something as both large and expensive, it's considered non-standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage can lead to awkward phrasing and potential confusion. Although examples can be found primarily in news and science contexts, it's better to opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "large and costly", "very expensive", or "considerable expense" to enhance clarity and professionalism in your writing. Be aware that using more appropriate phrase in your text will improve readability and overall writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large and costly

Combines the size and expense aspects, similar to the original but slightly more formal.

a very expensive

Emphasizes the high price, focusing on the expense involved.

a considerable expense

Highlights the size and impact of the expenditure.

a significantly costly

Highlights the substantial nature of the cost.

a prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes that the cost is so high it prevents purchase or action.

a substantially expensive

Stresses the considerable amount of money involved.

a major financial burden

Shifts the focus to the impact of the cost, emphasizing its burden.

an extravagant outlay

Focuses on the lavish or excessive nature of the spending.

a financially draining

Highlights the negative impact on available funds.

a resource-intensive

Highlights that the cost impacts resources and is more formal than the original phrase.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "a big costly"?

While "a big costly" isn't standard, you can use alternatives such as "a very expensive", "a large and costly", or "a considerable expense" depending on the context.

Is "a big costly" grammatically correct?

The phrase "a big costly" is not considered standard English. It is better to use more conventional phrases like "very expensive" or "large and costly".

How can I use the idea of "a big costly" in a sentence?

Instead of using the phrase directly, rephrase your sentence. For example, instead of saying "It was a big costly mistake", try "It was "a very expensive" mistake" or "It turned out to be "a large and costly" undertaking".

Which sounds better, "a big costly" project or "a large and costly" project?

"A large and costly" project sounds more natural and grammatically correct than "a big costly" project. "Large" is often preferred over "big" in more formal contexts, and separating the adjectives improves clarity.