charge a substantial fee

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "charge a substantial fee" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the cost of services or products that are considered significant or considerable in amount. Example: "The consultant decided to charge a substantial fee for her expertise in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

An informal survey of New York City tattoo parlors found that most of them wouldn't provide the service and, as LiGee found, those that would do it charge a "substantial fee".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A few airlines, notably El Al and KLM, said they would allow passengers to use Swissair tickets on their flights but would charge them a substantial fee to do so.

The New York Times

Thus, for example, the makers of games consoles keep prices relatively low to get lots of users and then, having spread their format widely through subsidy, charge the people who produce games a substantial fee to make use of it.Google provides free search so that companies will pay top dollar for a prime position in the list of ads next to the results.

The Economist

To obtain these documents citizens must pay a substantial fee.

The New York Times

Participants also pay a substantial fee to attend.

The Guardian

Many companies charge a substantial early-termination fee that is roughly equivalent to making all remaining lease payments at once.

WikiHow

Typically in a fund of hedge funds, the underlying funds themselves charge substantial fees, often including a 20percentt commission on profits.

The New York Times

This can be carried out by a solicitor or accountant – who can charge substantial fees – or at the Post Office "for a small fee" – currently £11.95 per document.

The Guardian - Business

WineCare marketed itself as a high-security cellar that stores, catalogs and cares for 27,000 cases of wine in the basement of a Manhattan warehouse, charging substantial fees to safeguard collections worth tens of millions of dollars.

The New York Times

Another piece of practical advice offered by Freud that did not fall on deaf ears was that the psychoanalyst shouldn't be ashamed to charge substantial fees for his services, that he should collect payments regularly, and that he shouldn't take free patients.

The New Yorker

"Some publications charge substantial fees to be considered for their lists.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "charge a substantial fee", be clear about what the fee covers and justify the cost to the client or customer. Transparency can mitigate potential objections.

Common error

Avoid excessive or convoluted explanations when stating you "charge a substantial fee". State the fee clearly, and offer a concise justification of its value without overwhelming the recipient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "charge a substantial fee" functions as a verb phrase where "charge" is the verb and "a substantial fee" is the direct object. It indicates the action of imposing a significant cost for a service or product. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "charge a substantial fee" is a grammatically correct and professionally appropriate way to indicate that a significant cost is associated with a service or product. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, reflecting its use in business and formal communications. While alternatives exist, such as "impose a significant charge" or "levy a considerable fee", the key is to be transparent about the fee and justify its value to avoid potential objections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impose a significant charge

Uses 'impose' and 'significant' to convey a similar meaning with slightly more formal tone.

levy a considerable fee

Replaces 'substantial' with 'considerable', maintaining the meaning of a sizable charge.

demand a hefty payment

Emphasizes the amount to be paid is large and possibly unwelcome.

require a significant payment

Focuses on the necessity of paying a notable amount.

set a high price

Highlights the elevated cost of something.

extract a large sum

Implies the fee is being taken, potentially unwillingly.

assess a considerable cost

Uses 'assess' to indicate the fee is being evaluated and applied.

exact a heavy toll

Emphasizes the burden associated with the fee.

command a premium price

Suggests the high price is justified by the value offered.

place a significant levy

Similar to 'levy a considerable fee', but with different word order.

FAQs

What does "charge a substantial fee" mean?

The phrase "charge a substantial fee" means to require a payment that is considered significant or considerable in amount for a product, service, or privilege.

When is it appropriate to "charge a substantial fee"?

It's appropriate to "charge a substantial fee" when the service or product provided is of high value, requires significant expertise, or involves considerable resources.

What are some alternatives to "charge a substantial fee"?

You can use alternatives like "impose a significant charge", "levy a considerable fee", or "demand a hefty payment" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "charge a substantial fee" or "charge a high price"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "charge a substantial fee" often implies a more formal or professional context, whereas "charge a high price" is more general and can apply to a broader range of situations.