considerable expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "considerable expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant amount of money that is required for a particular purpose or project. Example: "The renovation of the historic building came at a considerable expense, but the results were worth it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For shipping activities, not least container shipping, bunker fuel is a considerable expense.

Journal of Transport Geography

My parents went to considerable expense to renovate the house.

The New York Times

And sometimes the hurdles multiply, at considerable expense.

The New York Times - Arts

Advertising recouped only a fraction of that considerable expense.

The New York Times - Tech

Times had gone considerable expense to secure Lieut.

The New Yorker

Brimelow objected to the prosecutor's application for compensation from Heathrow airport for "considerable expense and damages".

The Guardian

But what looks effortless is the product of years of effort and considerable expense.

The New York Times

England have done just that, at the considerable expense of Pakistan.

The Guardian - Sport

They had to purchase a separate policy for Mr. Linnell at considerable expense.

The New York Times

Tipped off, the Yankees management went to considerable expense to excavate the offending garment.

The New York Times

Equipment would have to be imported, and stars and crews fed and housed, at considerable expense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "considerable expense", ensure the context clearly indicates what the expense is related to. For instance, specify "considerable expense in renovating the building" rather than just "considerable expense".

Common error

Avoid using "considerable expense" in very casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "it cost a lot" to maintain an appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "considerable expense" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or following a preposition. It signifies a significant financial cost or expenditure. Ludwig AI affirms that this phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "considerable expense" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates a significant financial cost. It's versatile enough for various formal and neutral contexts, especially in news, science, and business. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is correct and usable in written English. For more casual settings, alternatives like "it cost a lot" may be more appropriate. Remember to clearly specify the context to which the expense relates for maximum clarity. To vary your writing, consider semantically similar phrases such as "significant cost" or "substantial cost".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant cost

Replaces "considerable" with "significant", focusing on the importance of the cost.

substantial cost

Uses "substantial" to emphasize the large amount of the cost.

high cost

Simplifies the phrase by using "high" instead of "considerable" or "substantial".

large expenditure

Replaces "expense" with "expenditure", highlighting the spending aspect.

heavy investment

Emphasizes the investment aspect of the expense, implying a return.

major outlay

Uses "outlay" to refer to the act of spending money, emphasizing the initial investment.

significant financial burden

Focuses on the burden that the expense creates.

steep price

Implies the price is higher than expected.

premium price tag

Suggests a high-quality product or service that justifies the expense.

prohibitive cost

Indicates the cost is so high that it prevents someone from purchasing or doing something.

FAQs

How can I use "considerable expense" in a sentence?

You can use "considerable expense" to describe a situation where a significant amount of money is spent. For example, "Renovating the old house involved "considerable expense"".

What are some alternatives to saying "considerable expense"?

Some alternatives include "significant cost", "substantial cost", or "high cost", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "considerable expense" in formal writing?

Yes, "considerable expense" is appropriate for formal writing. It's often used in reports, articles, and other professional documents to describe financial matters.

What's the difference between "considerable expense" and "expensive"?

"Considerable expense" is a phrase that refers to a large amount of money spent. "Expensive" is an adjective that describes something that costs a lot. You might say "The project involved "considerable expense"" or "The project was expensive".