an unavoidable cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unavoidable cost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing expenses or consequences that cannot be avoided in a particular situation or decision-making process. Example: "Investing in renewable energy may require an upfront investment, but it is an unavoidable cost for a sustainable future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Carbon emissions have an unavoidable cost.

The Guardian

For years, the government had downplayed the severity of environmental pollution, describing it as an unavoidable cost of growth.

The New Yorker

Negotiating these deals hurt EA's bottom line but were considered an unavoidable cost to maintain an edge over the competition.

The Guardian - Tech

Getting close to the sullied political leadership in Illinois was probably an unavoidable cost of winning the U.S. Senate seat.

The New Yorker

Those electricians have a ready response to anyone who suggests that poor electrical work might be considered an unavoidable cost of war.

The New York Times

"If we hadn't made the change sometime soon, we might have been struggling to keep our circulation growth, so it was an unavoidable cost".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

A useful way to support yourself while you're abroad is to find a job to off-set any unavoidable costs.

WikiHow

A good entrepreneur owner-manager sees cost control as an unavoidable toll booth with a hidden bonus: unlimited options to negotiate performance incentives.

Huffington Post

Situations might change when the country seriously stabilizes, but right now the US government has basically accepted that Afghanistan represents a seriously high — and unavoidable — cost for the foreseeable future.

WikiHow

The unavoidable cost is a raised likelihood of false alarms – of phantom phone vibrations.

BBC

But at this point, supporters and opponents of the war said that spending the money was the unavoidable cost of putting an end to the conflict.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "an unavoidable cost", ensure the context clearly explains why the cost cannot be avoided. Provide specific reasons or circumstances to support the claim.

Common error

Avoid using "an unavoidable cost" as a blanket justification for all expenses. Instead, critically evaluate costs and seek alternatives to reduce or eliminate them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unavoidable cost" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject complement or object in a sentence, identifying or describing something regarded as a cost that cannot be prevented or avoided. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an unavoidable cost" is a commonly used noun phrase that denotes an expense or consequence deemed impossible to prevent. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly news, science, and business. While alternative phrases exist, such as "a necessary expense" or "an inescapable charge", "an unavoidable cost" maintains a consistent connotation of inevitability. When employing this phrase, ensure that the inevitability of the cost is well-justified and supported by clear reasoning, and be cautious of overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unavoidable expense

Synonymous, simply uses expense instead of cost.

a necessary expense

Focuses on the necessity of the cost rather than its inevitability.

an inescapable charge

Emphasizes the difficulty in avoiding the cost.

a required outlay

Highlights the mandatory nature of the expense.

a mandatory expenditure

More formal, emphasizes the obligatory aspect of the spending.

a built-in expense

Highlights that the cost is part of the overall structure or system.

a non-negotiable fee

Highlights the inflexibility of the cost.

an expected burden

Highlights the negative aspect of cost, framing it as an imposition.

an essential investment

Frames the cost as beneficial in the long term.

a regrettable necessity

Expresses the cost is unpleasant but unavoidable.

FAQs

How can I use "an unavoidable cost" in a sentence?

Use "an unavoidable cost" when referring to an expense or consequence that cannot be prevented or circumvented in a particular situation. For example, "Investing in renewable energy may require an upfront investment, but it is "an unavoidable cost" for a sustainable future".

What are some alternatives to "an unavoidable cost"?

You can use alternatives like "a necessary expense", "an inescapable charge", or "a required outlay" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "an unavoidable cost"?

It's appropriate when referring to expenses or consequences that are truly impossible to avoid given the circumstances, industry standards, or ethical considerations.

Is "an unavoidable cost" the same as "an unexpected cost"?

No, "an unavoidable cost" refers to something you know you will have to pay, while an unexpected cost is something that arises suddenly and was not planned for.