costly enterprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "costly enterprise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a project, venture, or activity that requires a significant financial investment or is expensive to undertake. Example: "Starting a new business can be a costly enterprise, often requiring substantial capital and resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Landing on Mars will be an extraordinarily hazardous and costly enterprise.

The New York Times

But money is running out, and it is looking for sponsors for the costly enterprise.

The New York Times - Sports

Why make it a more costly enterprise by inviting greedy private industry to take part?

The New York Times

But trying to make up for lost revenue in the past is a costly enterprise and doesn't ensure success.

The New Yorker

News gathering is a costly enterprise, and not much can be accomplished on an annual budget of $15,000.

The New York Times

Developing and qualifying nuclear materials have traditionally been a very costly enterprise that often takes a decade or longer.

Journal of Nuclear Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The older Small Business and Small Business Premium plans were also capped at 25 employees, which meant midsized companies had to subscribe to Microsoft's costlier enterprise plans if they wanted to use Office 365 and didn't need all the features of the old Midsize Business plan (the equivalent of the new Business Premium offering).

TechCrunch

Yet over the past decade the United States has been facilitating the costly settlements enterprise by pouring $28.9 billion into Israel.

The New York Times

"It's just a costly military enterprise," says Hume.

Huffington Post

The U.S. "Empire of Bases" — at $102 billion a year already the world's costliest military enterprise — just got a good deal more expensive.

The New York Times

It's also costly: major enterprises lose more than $40 billion in profits due to poor customer service.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "costly enterprise", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific costs are high – whether financial, time-related, or resource-based. Provide specific examples of the high costs if possible to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling something a "costly enterprise" without explaining why it is costly. Readers need to understand the specific factors contributing to the high cost to appreciate the significance of the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "costly enterprise" functions as a noun phrase where "costly" modifies the noun "enterprise". It typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence, describing a particular endeavor as expensive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "costly enterprise" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes an undertaking involving significant expenses or resources. Ludwig AI confirms that it functions as a noun phrase, with "costly" modifying "enterprise". It is predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts. While often used to describe financial costs, it can also refer to high costs in terms of time or resources. When using the phrase, it is important to provide context on what makes the enterprise costly. Alternatives like "expensive undertaking" or "financially demanding project" can be used to vary your language, as they offer nuanced differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expensive undertaking

Focuses on the high price or expenditure associated with the activity.

high-priced venture

Emphasizes the monetary aspect of the enterprise being costly.

financially demanding project

Highlights the financial strain the project may impose.

resource-intensive operation

Indicates that the operation requires a lot of resources, not necessarily only financial.

capital-intensive initiative

Specifically refers to initiatives requiring a large amount of capital investment.

prohibitively expensive scheme

Suggests the cost is so high it might prevent the scheme from being viable.

wasteful endeavor

Implies that the endeavor not only costs a lot but also wastes resources.

luxury project

Suggests the project is costly because it's lavish and not essential.

extravagant operation

Highlights that the operation is unnecessarily expensive and showy.

pricey activity

A more informal way of saying something is expensive.

FAQs

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

You can use "costly enterprise" to describe any project, activity, or undertaking that requires significant financial investment or resources. For example, "Developing new pharmaceutical agents is a "costly enterprise"."

What are some alternatives to saying "costly enterprise"?

Alternatives include "expensive undertaking", "financially demanding project", or "resource-intensive operation", depending on the specific aspect of cost you want to emphasize.

Is "costly enterprise" always related to financial costs?

While often referring to financial costs, "costly enterprise" can also imply high costs in terms of time, effort, or resources. The specific context determines the type of cost being highlighted.

What makes "costly enterprise" different from "expensive project"?

"Costly enterprise" often implies a broader scope and longer-term commitment than "expensive project". An "enterprise" suggests a more complex and sustained undertaking, whereas a project might be a one-time activity.