at certain cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at certain cost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the implications or expenses associated with a particular action or decision. Example: "Implementing the new software will improve efficiency, but it will come at certain cost to our budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Two capacity assignment strategies are compared in order to improve the robustness of the network at certain cost.

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering

So, weary of a career that had come at certain cost to his childhood, he moved back to Brooklyn in 1989, when he was 23.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Taking all of the inflections of a word like femina as representing a single symbol avoids many ambiguities, but at certain costs.

Plosone

She received great publicity from the trial, but at a certain cost.

The New York Times

Short Biased funds also provide negative exposure with a beta of minus 0.86 but at a certain cost: alpha is minus 0.77percentt.

Columbia University

Their identity can be created only through separation, difference and at a certain cost to those on either side of the dividing line.

The Guardian

After that the other could, at a certain cost to himself, impoverish his opponent to a greater degree.The first player might receive ten cents, 30 cents or 70 cents.

The Economist

However, this comes at a certain cost, since the cell edge users in this scheme, suffering from poor channel conditions, are more severely affected.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, key-dependency comes at a certain cost for this scheme: due to reduced sensitivity of some potentially employed filters, the hash length has to be increased as compared to the scheme without key-dependency.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Sometimes you have to simply make peace at a certain cost".

Vice

Basically, I'm cutting deals with Asia and other countries to distribute the product at a certain cost.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at certain cost", be specific about what the cost entails to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid only focusing on the obvious costs when using the phrase "at certain cost". Consider and mention potential hidden, long-term, or indirect consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at certain cost" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or clause. It indicates that an action or outcome is achieved with some form of sacrifice, expense, or disadvantage. Ludwig shows various examples highlighting its use in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at certain cost" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate that achieving a particular outcome involves trade-offs, sacrifices, or negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia. While alternatives like "with associated drawbacks" or "involving specific expenses" can be used, "at certain cost" provides a concise way to acknowledge that benefits often come with downsides. When using this phrase, it is important to be specific about the nature of the cost to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a specific expense

Similar meaning, but more direct emphasis on a defined expense.

with particular trade-offs

Emphasizes the compromises or sacrifices that need to be made.

with corresponding disadvantages

Focuses on the negative aspects that correspond to the benefit.

with associated drawbacks

Focuses on the negative aspects or disadvantages that accompany something.

requiring certain concessions

Emphasizes the act of yielding or granting something as a compromise.

demanding particular compromises

Highlights the need to make concessions.

entailing some sacrifice

Focuses on the act of giving up something valuable.

incurring some penalties

Highlights the negative consequences or penalties involved.

at some sacrifice

Highlights that there will be some level of sacrifice but it may not be known ahead of time.

involving specific expenses

Draws attention to the monetary costs involved.

FAQs

What does "at certain cost" mean?

The phrase "at certain cost" means that achieving something will involve some negative consequences, sacrifices, or expenses.

How can I use "at certain cost" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate that a benefit or advantage comes with a downside. For example, "Implementing the new software will improve efficiency, but "at certain cost" to our budget."

What are some alternatives to "at certain cost"?

Some alternatives include "with associated drawbacks", "with particular trade-offs", or "involving specific expenses".

Is it better to use "at a certain cost" or "at certain cost"?

Both forms are acceptable. "At a certain cost" is slightly more common, but "at certain cost" is also grammatically correct and frequently used.