costing myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "costing myself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the consequences or sacrifices one makes that affect oneself, often in a financial or emotional context. Example: "By not taking that job offer, I feel like I am costing myself valuable experience and potential income."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In my first encounter with my family's new Cuisinart Coffee Maker CHW-12 Cup Programmable with Hot Water System, I ended up confused by the superfluous "Hot Water System" and poured the water intended for coffee in there instead of the coffee maker, costing myself an extra 20 minutes trying to figure out how to extract coffee from the infernal thing.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Meanwhile, I had cost myself $12.91.

The New Yorker

I cost myself five shots there.

The New York Times - Sports

"I might have cost myself 10 weeks of use.

The New York Times

"I cost myself quite a lot of money," he grimaces.

The Guardian - Music

"I don't want to be offensive and cost myself a vote," Mr. Gabay said.

The New York Times

"Unfortunately the last three holes, I made bogeys and cost myself a good chance to win this golf tournament," Kim said.

The New York Times - Sports

I didn't play a great round of golf, but I made enough mistakes that I cost myself basically four shots today, and those are difficult to swallow.

The New York Times

So I believe things are not yet clear and if I were to travel to the US there is a good chance of me being tangled up in some administrative confusion which could cost myself and our business dearly.

TechCrunch

Photo courtesy of Tracie Hovey, Ovation PR. "I had a chance to direct the pilot to Quantico which went on to become the hit show Criminal Minds and thus, cost myself a lot of money.

Huffington Post

Should I have swallowed the cost myself?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "costing myself", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific loss or detriment you are incurring. For example, "By prioritizing short-term gains, I am costing myself long-term financial stability."

Common error

Avoid using "costing myself" when the consequence primarily affects others. This phrase should reflect a direct negative impact on the speaker, not just indirect effects. If the impact is primarily on someone else or something else, find other alternatives such as "costing the company", "costing my family", or "costing them".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "costing myself" functions as a verb phrase indicating that the subject is incurring a loss, disadvantage, or negative consequence as a result of their own actions. As Ludwig AI confirmed, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "costing myself" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that effectively conveys the idea of incurring a loss or disadvantage due to one's own actions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, and occasionally in Science and Business, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using the phrase, ensure you express the scope of the cost clearly. Remember that it needs to reflect a direct negative impact on the subject. By understanding its usage and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use this phrase in your own writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sacrificing my own benefit

Highlights the relinquishing of personal advantages.

paying a price myself

Indicates that one is personally bearing the consequences or expenses.

harming myself

Focuses on the negative consequences one inflicts upon oneself.

losing out personally

Highlights the personal deprivation or forfeited opportunities.

setting myself back

Highlights the act of impeding one's progress or advancement.

disadvantaging myself

Highlights the act of placing oneself in a less favorable position.

putting myself at risk

Stresses the exposure to potential dangers or negative outcomes.

impairing my own progress

Focuses on damage or weakening of personal advancement.

penalizing myself

Emphasizes self-imposed penalties or drawbacks.

creating problems for myself

Focuses on generating difficulties or obstacles for oneself.

FAQs

How can I use "costing myself" in a sentence?

You can use "costing myself" to describe situations where your actions or decisions lead to a disadvantage or loss for yourself. For example, "By procrastinating, I am costing myself valuable study time."

What's a good alternative to "costing myself"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "costing myself" could include "harming myself", "disadvantaging myself", or "sacrificing my own benefit".

Is it correct to say "costing to myself"?

No, the correct phrasing is "costing myself". The preposition "to" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.

What is the difference between "costing myself" and "costing me"?

"Costing myself" emphasizes that the loss or disadvantage is a direct result of your own actions or decisions. "Costing me" is more general and can refer to situations where external factors cause the loss. For instance, "The delay is costing me money" implies external factors, while "By being late, I'm costing myself opportunities" suggests personal responsibility.