a slight expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a cost that is minimal or not significant in relation to the overall budget or expenditure. Example: "The new software will require a slight expense, but the benefits will outweigh the costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Renewable Energy

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The results show that with the proposed adaptive control the blade root flapwise load can be reduced at a slight expense of optimal power output.

Renewable Energy

Due to the clarity and simplicity of the learning rule, there is only a slight expense in computation compared with ordinary backpropagation.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In the case of a GRIN lens, the field distortions are much reduced at a slight expense of resolution (see Figure 5 ).

Plosone

The sensitivity increases considerably with read depth at a slight expense to specificity.

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

With the use of the proposed algorithmic flow path, coarser grids can replace finer ones at the slight expense of accuracy.

Journal of Computational Physics

Some of the countries that have increased their total share of venture capital investment over the period, at the slight expense of the UK, include the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and France.

TechCrunch

People will gladly spend hours a day reading brainjunk, to avoid even the slightest expense that might improve the quality of what they are reading.

TechCrunch

It is shown that there is a slight impact at the expense of the economics of the process when considering impurities.

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

But what the DAL study found was that there was only a slight correlation between lower expenses and higher performance.

The New York Times

It took one-and-a-half years for the accountants to comb through his boxes and wrap up the audit, resulting in a slight refund for business expenses he had neglected to claim.

Forbes

The United States, since 1873, had effectively been on the gold standard the metal, if presented to the government, would be assayed and struck into coin for a slight charge to cover expenses.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slight expense", ensure the context makes clear what benefit or advantage is being gained in return. This emphasizes the worth of the exchange.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight expense" when the cost is actually significant. This diminishes the impact of the real cost and can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight expense" functions as a noun phrase that describes a cost or expenditure that is considered to be small or minimal. This is supported by Ludwig, which indicates that it is correctly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

16%

Renewable Energy

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight expense" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a small or minimal cost. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is utilized across various fields, particularly in science and news media, to acknowledge costs while emphasizing their relative insignificance. Alternatives include phrases like "a minor cost" or "a minimal investment". When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the benefits gained in return for the expense. Be careful not to use it to downplay costs that are actually significant. This phrase is appropriate for neutral to professional registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor cost

Replaces "slight" with "minor", emphasizing the small size of the cost.

a small price to pay

Expresses the idea of a trade-off where the expense is considered acceptable for the benefit gained.

a minimal investment

Frames the expense as an investment, highlighting its potential return.

a marginal expenditure

Uses "marginal" to indicate that the expense is on the edge of being significant.

a modest outlay

Replaces "expense" with "outlay", suggesting a financial disbursement.

a reasonable cost

Indicates that the expense is fair and justifiable.

a trivial amount

Emphasizes the insignificance of the expense.

a negligible fee

Focuses on the fee aspect of the expense, highlighting its small size.

a light burden

Presents the expense as a load or responsibility that is easy to bear.

a tad pricey

An informal way to describe something that is only slightly expensive.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight expense" to indicate a minor cost incurred for a particular benefit. For example, "Improving the software's security comes at "a slight expense" in processing speed".

What is a good alternative to "a slight expense"?

Alternatives include "a minor cost", "a small price to pay", or "a minimal investment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a slight expense"?

It is appropriate when the cost or expenditure is relatively small and doesn't significantly impact the overall budget or value.

Is there a difference between "a slight expense" and "at the expense of"?

"A slight expense" refers to a minor cost, while "at the expense of" indicates that something is achieved by sacrificing or compromising something else. For instance, increased efficiency might come "at the expense of" employee morale.