borne the cost

USAGE SUMMARY

"borne the cost" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to someone who has taken on or accepted the financial burden of something. Example: "The company has borne the cost of the repairs." Alternative expressions include "covered the cost" and "incurred the expense."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Customers have often borne the cost of the skirmishes, though.

The Guardian - Business

McSorley told the newspapers he has borne the cost of his legal fees, which are at least $200,000.

The New York Times - Sports

IFCI has borne the cost of India's history of inefficient industrial development, frequently as a pawn in the game of graft and political patronage.

The Economist

So far the local government has borne the cost of Shuangxi's housing upgrade, its new school and the recreation area where elderly villagers dance to revolutionary songs.

The Economist

The longer the fighting continues in Iraq and Afghanistan, the clearer it becomes that the widest divide in America may not be the one between those who support the wars and those who don't, but the one between those who have borne the cost personally — those who have served overseas themselves, or have waited anxiously as a loved one has — and those who have not.

The New York Times

"Instead of acting for the benefit of our children's lives, they've internalized their profits while our kids (have) borne the cost in their brains, lungs and lives".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Ordinary laborers have borne the costs and suffered from joblessness and deepening economic anxiety.

The New York Times

To my knowledge, I have never borne the costs of anyone else's unpurchased cell phone.

Huffington Post

Taxpayers bear the cost.

The New York Times

Who bears the cost?

The Guardian

Who bears the cost of these attacks?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject of the sentence is the entity that actually paid or accepted the liability to maintain clarity.

Common error

A very common mistake is writing "born the cost" instead of "borne the cost". While "born" relates to birth, "borne" is the past participle of "bear", meaning to carry or support. Always use the spelling with an 'e' when referring to carrying expenses or burdens.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "borne the cost" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect or past perfect tense. It consists of the past participle of the irregular verb "bear" followed by a direct object. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used to attribute financial accountability to a specific actor within a narrative.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academic

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

To wrap up, "borne the cost" is a sophisticated and grammatically correct way to describe taking on a financial or metaphorical burden. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the phrase relies on the correct past participle "borne", which distinguishes it from the unrelated word "born". It is most prevalent in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, appearing in highly reputable publications like The New York Times and The Economist. While it is considered Uncommon in daily speech, it is a staple of professional writing. When using it, remember that it carries a sense of weight or responsibility that simpler phrases like "paid for" might lack. Always double-check your spelling to avoid the common "born" error and ensure your subject is clearly defined to maintain a strong, authoritative tone in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covered the cost

Direct and neutral alternative frequently used in both professional and casual contexts.

footed the bill

A more idiomatic and slightly informal expression for paying for something.

incurred the expense

Uses more formal vocabulary, often found in legal or accounting documentation.

absorbed the charges

Suggests that an entity took on the costs without passing them on to others.

shouldered the burden

Adds a metaphorical weight to the cost, implying it was a significant or difficult responsibility.

paid the price

Can be used literally but often carries a figurative meaning of suffering consequences.

underwritten the expenses

Specific to finance and insurance, implying a guarantee of payment.

financed the undertaking

Focuses on the provision of funds for a specific project or action.

taken the hit

Colloquial expression meaning to accept a financial loss or negative impact.

settled the account

Refers specifically to the act of paying off a debt or final bill.

FAQs

Is it "born the cost" or "borne the cost"?

The correct spelling is "borne the cost". The word "borne" is the past participle of the verb "bear", which means to carry or support. "Born" is exclusively used in the context of being brought into life.

What does "borne the cost" mean in a sentence?

In a sentence, it means that a person or organization has taken on the financial responsibility or burden of a particular expense. For example, in Ludwig, we see sentences like "Customers have often "borne the cost" of the skirmishes".

What is a more formal way to say "borne the cost"?

If you need a more technical or formal alternative, you can use "incurred the expense" or "underwritten the costs" depending on the specific financial context.

Can I use "borne the cost" for non-financial things?

Yes, while primarily financial, it can be used metaphorically for emotional or physical burdens. You might also consider "shouldered the burden" or "endured the hardship" for non-monetary situations.