costly effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "costly effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an endeavor or task that requires a significant amount of resources, time, or money, often implying that the effort may not yield proportional benefits. Example: "The project turned out to be a costly effort, consuming more funds than initially budgeted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Instead, drivers trucked them away, a costly effort, Mr. Rasmussen said.

The New York Times

A good chunk of it went into a costly effort to establish itself in China — an effort it recently abandoned.

The New Yorker

Preparing TCF Bank Stadium was a complicated, costly effort, beginning with the removal of about 40,000 cubic yards of snow, according to the university spokesman Garry Bowman.

The New York Times - Sports

A less fortunate aspect of the national urge to reassert France's stature in the world was the Fourth Republic's costly effort to hold the colonial empire.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Rollins argued all along for hunkering down in Iowa and not expending much costly effort on other early-voting states.

The New York Times

But Michael Ballinger, a spokesman for MBIA, said the settlement was simply a way "to avoid the long, time-consuming and costly effort involved in a court proceeding".

The New York Times

A successful reconstruction program for Iraq will require a sustained and costly effort to provide jobs and basic services over the next year, the panel reported.

The New York Times

That was attributed to a lack of high-speed cellular data networks, so a frenzied and costly effort to build third-generation, or 3G, networks ensued.

The New York Times - Tech

Henry Kissinger's observation, made during the Vietnam War, should be haunting Hezbollah, the Middle East's most capable guerrilla force, as it becomes embroiled in an increasingly costly effort to save the Assad regime.

The New York Times

But shutting down a brand is a complicated and costly effort that requires buying out dealers protected by state franchise laws, as well as scaling back production of vehicles.

The New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple on Thursday put to rest the last of a series of lawsuits it brought in a losing and costly effort to put a stop to Web leaks about its product plans.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project that consumes significant resources, use "costly effort" to highlight the financial or resource burden, especially if the return on investment is questionable.

Common error

Avoid using "costly effort" without specifying what makes the effort expensive. Provide context by indicating the specific resources consumed or the reasons for the high cost.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "costly effort" functions as a noun phrase, where "costly" is an adjective modifying the noun "effort". As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English. It describes a task or endeavor that requires a significant investment of resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "costly effort" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression that describes an undertaking requiring significant resources. According to Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted in written English. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts. While "costly effort" is often used to describe financial burdens, it can also refer to significant investments of time and other resources. Alternatives such as "expensive endeavor" or "high-priced undertaking" can be used depending on the specific context. When using the phrase, it is best practice to provide context about the specific resources consumed to make the meaning clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expensive endeavor

Replaces 'effort' with 'endeavor' to emphasize the undertaking aspect while retaining the costliness.

high-priced undertaking

Uses 'high-priced' to specify the monetary cost, and 'undertaking' to indicate a project or task.

resource-intensive operation

Focuses on the resources consumed, making it applicable to efforts involving materials or energy.

substantial investment

Highlights the significant resources committed, implying that there is an expectation of return.

major expenditure

Emphasizes the spending of money, typically on a large scale.

lavish attempt

Suggests extravagant or generous spending, possibly more than necessary.

prohibitively expensive exercise

Indicates something is so costly that it might deter people from doing it.

unprofitable venture

Implies an effort that costs more than it earns or achieves.

value-draining process

Highlights the consumption of value or assets, potentially without a positive outcome.

wasteful exercise

Emphasizes that the resources spent were not used efficiently or effectively.

FAQs

How can I use "costly effort" in a sentence?

You can use "costly effort" to describe an undertaking that requires significant resources, such as "The project turned out to be a "costly effort", consuming more funds than initially budgeted."

What are some alternatives to "costly effort"?

Alternatives to "costly effort" include "expensive endeavor", "high-priced undertaking", or "resource-intensive operation", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "costly effort" or "expensive effort"?

Both "costly effort" and "expensive effort" are grammatically correct, but "costly effort" often implies not only monetary expense but also a significant investment of time or resources, while "expensive effort" focuses more on the monetary aspect.

What's the difference between "costly effort" and "substantial investment"?

"Costly effort" typically describes an undertaking where the cost is a primary consideration, often with implications of difficulty or potential waste. "Substantial investment"/"substantial investment", on the other hand, suggests a significant allocation of resources with an expectation of future returns or benefits.