at cost rate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at cost rate" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used when discussing pricing or expenses, typically in a business or financial context, but it is better to use more common expressions. Example: "The supplier agreed to provide the materials at cost rate, ensuring we stay within budget."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

All the architects were on contract, all were compensated for their time and effort (albeit at an at cost rate), all the homes went through permitting, and, most importantly, all the homes were built.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

T-Mobile has no consumer data package, charging $15 per megabyte, 60 times AT&T's lowest-cost rate.

The New York Times - Tech

"At this moment, we are producing copper at a cost rate greater than its selling price," he said.

The New York Times

In addition to Iodine's subjective "worth it" rating, you can also look at cost, failure rate (not efficacy rate, as it's often framed), frequency of use, whether hormones are involved, whether a method allows for spontaneity, whether it regulates your menstrual cycle, and whether it has side effects.

Huffington Post

● h j Holding cost rate at central warehouse for product j.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

● b j Backordering cost rate at central warehouse for product j.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

A simulation-based approach is developed to numerically evaluate the expected cost rate at a given inspection interval.

Engineering Structures

With a theater ticket bought there, the package components would cost $1,095 at the hotel rate quoted above.

The New York Times - Travel

This is obvious when using filters 2 + 3 since the gain on false positive rate is at cost of success rate of CDS diagnosis (Table 3, Figs. 5G, H).

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

"For United States government patronage, our hotels charge room rates only at cost and we do not profit from these stays," the company said. .

Huffington Post

And there is a significant amount of research to show that where formula is provided at no cost, breastfeeding rates are lowest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing pricing, consider using the simpler and more common phrase "at cost" instead of "at cost rate" for better clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using overly formal or complex language when describing pricing. Sticking to simple terms like "at cost" makes the information easier for everyone to understand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at cost rate" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the pricing or compensation level. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to describe something being provided without profit. Though grammatically correct, simpler alternatives like "at cost" are more common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at cost rate" is a grammatically acceptable phrase used to indicate that something is priced or compensated at the cost incurred, without profit. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's less common than simpler alternatives like "at cost" or "at cost price". While it appears in news, science, and formal business contexts, favoring conciseness and clarity in writing is generally advisable. Understanding the nuances and alternative phrasing can help improve writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at cost

Omits "rate", simplifying the phrase while retaining the core meaning.

at cost price

Replaces "rate" with "price", providing a more common alternative.

at the cost rate

Adds "the" making the phrase slightly more formal.

at a cost-effective rate

Adds the idea of cost-effectiveness.

at a break-even price

Specifies that the price covers costs without profit.

at the expense of

Focuses on what is sacrificed or lost to achieve something.

at a reduced rate

Indicates a lower price than usual.

at a discounted rate

Similar to reduced rate, but specifically implies a discount.

at a promotional rate

Indicates that the lower price is part of a promotional offer.

at factory price

Suggests a price that is close to production costs.

FAQs

What does "at cost rate" mean?

The phrase "at cost rate" refers to selling something at the price it takes to produce or obtain it, without any profit. A more common way to express this is simply /s/at+cost.

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

While you can say "The supplier provided materials at cost rate", it's more common to say "The supplier provided materials "at cost"".

Which is more common, "at cost rate" or "at cost price"?

"At cost price" is a more frequently used alternative to "at cost rate", though ""at cost"" is even more common.

What's the difference between "at cost" and "at cost rate"?

The phrase ""at cost"" is a shortened version of "at cost rate", and the meaning is essentially the same. The shorter version is typically preferred for its simplicity.