a significant expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant expense" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing costs that are considerable or impactful in a financial context. Example: "The renovation of the office building will incur a significant expense that we need to budget for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

They also eliminate returns of unsold books—a significant expense, since thirty to fifty per cent of books are returned.

The New Yorker

We lived on a very tight budget, so the postage must have been a significant expense".

The Guardian - Books

To add bomb-sniffers, plus personnel, to every station would be a significant expense.

The New York Times

Besides, managing and re-shelving fifty million patent documents was a significant expense.

The New Yorker

For a typical family in America making $50K, this is a significant expense.

Columbia University

For working parents, summer presents a logistical challenge, and often a significant expense.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

For a dialysis unit with 100 patients this is clearly a very significant expense.

BMC Nephrology

Dr Roth calculates that a system that served ads to 138m internet surfers would cost around $600 a day a significant expense for the newspapers, NGOs and underground political movements likely to benefit from the system.

The Economist

I've talked about the fact that of the 100 million people over 50 in the United States, anywhere from 25 to 40 million have no money saved either for retirement or for an unexpected significant expense -- something as pedestrian as a new washer and dryer, to a new (but used) car, to serious uncovered or undercovered medical needs.

Huffington Post

He sometimes repeated this process during the publication of a book, causing significant expense for both himself and the publisher.

Wikipedia

"I'm making this suggestion solely because we believe it will allow more of the journalists who have traveled a significant distance at significant expense to have an opportunity to question the president".

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant expense", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being paid for and why the expense is considered significant. Provide context to quantify the significance.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant expense" when describing relatively minor costs. The term implies a considerable financial impact, so ensure the expense warrants such a description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant expense" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies something as a substantial financial burden or outlay, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant expense" is a common noun phrase used to emphasize the considerable financial impact of a particular cost. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and finds frequent use in news, scientific, and business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the expense truly warrants the description by providing context that quantifies its significance. Related phrases include "a considerable expenditure" and "a substantial cost". Steer clear of overstating the significance when describing minor costs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable expenditure

Replaces "expense" with "expenditure", implying a formal outlay of money; "considerable" suggests notable size.

a substantial cost

Substitutes "expense" with "cost", highlighting the financial burden; "substantial" indicates a significant amount.

a major outlay

Replaces "expense" with "outlay", focusing on the act of spending a large sum.

a heavy financial burden

Uses a more descriptive phrase to emphasize the financial strain caused by the expense.

a costly undertaking

Frames the expense as part of a larger project or activity that is expensive.

a sizable investment

Presents the expense as an investment, implying a potential return but also a significant initial cost.

a large monetary commitment

Emphasizes the commitment of funds, highlighting the scale of the financial obligation.

an appreciable financial strain

Focuses on the strain on resources caused by the expense, using "appreciable" to denote a noticeable impact.

a premium price

Emphasizes the high price paid, often implying superior quality or exclusivity.

a big drain on resources

Highlights how the expense depletes available resources, indicating a negative impact.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant expense" in a sentence?

You can use "a significant expense" to describe costs that are notably high or impactful. For example, "The new equipment represents "a significant expense" for the company" or "Tuition fees are "a significant expense" for many students".

What are some alternatives to saying "a significant expense"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable cost", "a substantial outlay", or "a major expenditure" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "significant cost" or "significant expense"?

Both "significant cost" and "significant expense" are correct and often interchangeable. However, "expense" might be preferred in formal contexts, while "cost" is more general.

What makes an expense "significant"?

An expense is "significant" when it is notably large relative to a budget, income, or other financial benchmark. The term implies that the expense has a considerable impact on financial planning or resources.