cost time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'cost time' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that an action or event takes up a certain amount of time. For example, “Preparing this project cost me a lot of time.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Mistakes cost time".

The New York Times

Listings cost time and money to market and often languish.

The New York Times

The answer depends on three factors: cost, time, and control.

The Guardian

"The JAG's are so integrated that it normally doesn't cost time," he added.

The New York Times

Many people had to abandon plans which cost time and money to develop.

The Guardian

"The recovery is going to cost money, and it's going to cost time".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

It usually requires different steps and is traditionally a cost, time-demanding and often unsafe process.

Journal of Cultural Heritage

There's a cost-time trade off.

TechCrunch

Table 4 shows the cost-time analysis for this resource.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

Compromised Cost-Time: Based either on workflows or workloads.

Journal of Cloud Computing

But because of sequestration, panel attorneys are now more likely than not to be assigned high-cost, time-intensive cases.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing project management or resource allocation, use "cost time" to clearly indicate that a particular action will require a significant time investment.

Common error

Be mindful of using phrases that already imply time consumption, such as "delay the process", when you could simply state that something will "cost time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cost time" functions as a verb phrase where "cost" signifies the expenditure or investment of "time". It indicates that a particular action or activity will require a certain amount of time to complete or execute, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cost time" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression indicating that an action or event requires a certain amount of time. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys the concept of time investment, offering alternatives like "require time" or "take up time" for varied emphasis. Remember to avoid redundancy and consider whether the time investment is a significant factor when employing this phrase. Ludwig's analysis reveals that while the expression is valid, careful consideration of context ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require time

Emphasizes the necessity of time for a task.

take up time

Focuses on the amount of time consumed.

consume time

Highlights the use of time as a resource.

demand time

Stresses the urgency or need for time.

necessitate time

Formal way of saying time is required.

involve time

Indicates time as a component of the process.

time investment

Highlights time as a resource being allocated.

time expenditure

Similar to time investment, but implies a cost.

time commitment

Emphasizes dedication of time.

time burden

Implies that the time required is excessive or difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "cost time" in a sentence?

You can use "cost time" to indicate that a certain activity will require a significant investment of time. For example, "Implementing this new system will "cost time" and resources."

What are some alternatives to saying "cost time"?

Alternatives include phrases like "require time", "take up time", or "demand time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "cost time" or "take time"?

While both are acceptable, ""cost time"" often emphasizes the time investment as a significant factor or potential drawback, whereas "take time" is a more neutral statement.

In what contexts is "cost time" commonly used?

"Cost time" is frequently used in discussions related to project management, resource allocation, and efficiency analysis across different fields such as business, science, and news reporting.