cost so far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cost so far" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the total expenses incurred up to a certain point in time. Example: "The project has exceeded our budget, and the cost so far is higher than we anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

The projected cost so far for the airport is £200m.

The Guardian - Travel

One official estimated the cost so far at less than $1 million.

The New York Times

The Association of British insurers estimates the cost so far in the "low hundreds of millions".

Independent

Is BBC3 really worth the £500m it has cost so far?

The Guardian

after revealing the cost so far of cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico oil spillage had reached $1bn.

The Guardian - Business

Welcome back, HMT! Now let's have an inquiry into the true cost so far of Northern Rock to the taxpayer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

He was responsible for reducing costs so far that people had nowhere to go.

The Guardian

Sides are forming, law firms are involved and the costs so far are nearly $2 million.

The Guardian

Costs so far are well in excess of a year's income.

The Guardian

He characterized the financial setbacks as "lost opportunity costs" so far because factories had not yet incurred outlays to build the orders for Libya.

The New York Times

We've run up legal costs so far of £1.9 million - that is money we have already paid and budgeted for.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cost so far" when you want to emphasize that expenses are ongoing and may increase in the future.

Common error

Avoid using "cost so far" when you are referring to the total expected cost of a project. "Cost so far" indicates a partial amount, while "total cost" refers to the entire budget.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cost so far" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in indicating the cumulative expenses at a particular point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cost so far" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the total expenses incurred up to a certain point in time. Ludwig's analysis indicates that this phrase is most frequently used in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts to update audiences on project finances, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. When using the phrase "cost so far", clarity is key: always specify the currency and avoid confusing it with the total expected cost. Alternatives like "expenses to date" and "expenditure thus far" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expenses to date

Replaces "cost" with a synonym and uses "to date" for a more formal tone.

expenditure thus far

Uses a more formal synonym for "cost" and "thus far" for emphasis on the progression.

funds spent up to now

Highlights the spending aspect, using more common and simple language.

amount disbursed thus far

Highlights the disbursement of funds, using formal language.

investment made until now

Focuses on the "investment" aspect, highlighting the amount invested up to the present moment.

accumulated expenses

Focuses on the accumulation of expenses over time.

capital invested up to this point

Emphasizes the investment of capital and uses "up to this point" for precision.

total outlay to present

Emphasizes the total amount spent, using more technical financial terminology.

current financial commitment

Emphasizes the financial commitment made at the present time.

resources utilized till present

Focuses on the resources used and uses a more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "cost so far" in a sentence?

You can use "cost so far" to indicate the amount of money that has been spent on something up to a particular time. For example: "The "cost so far" for the new building is $1 million, but we expect it to increase as we continue building."

What can I say instead of "cost so far"?

You can use alternatives like "expenses to date", "expenditure thus far", or "investment made until now" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the cost until now" instead of "cost so far"?

While understandable, "cost until now" is not as common or idiomatic as ""cost so far"". The latter is generally preferred for its natural flow and established usage.

What's the difference between "cost so far" and "budget"?

"Cost so far" refers to the actual amount of money spent up to a specific point, whereas "budget" is the estimated total amount of money allocated for a project or activity. The "cost so far" may be less than, equal to, or greater than the budget at any given time.