costly time

USAGE SUMMARY

"costly time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in situations where time is a valuable or expensive resource. Example: Managing a project efficiently is crucial because every delay means costly time wasted.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled at a costly time.

The New York Times - Sports

This can be costly, time consuming and error prone.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

If, however, the images are sent electronically, the radiologist need not waste costly time travelling.

The Economist

Others may choose alternative shipping means or simply wait, she said, losing costly time.

The New York Times

This is very costly, time consuming and laborious, especially in 3D modeling.

Wear

The methodologies now being used to quantify physical parameters of small tanks are costly, time consuming, as well as laborious.

Energy Procedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

For people in authority, dealing with such folks can be costly, time-consuming, and irritating.

The New Yorker

The officials also acknowledged that lack of leadership resulted in costly, time-consuming "management by committee".

The New York Times

This process is costly, time-consuming and often less informative than drug firms would like.

The Economist

PREVENTING DISPUTES Contesting a will is costly, time-consuming and emotional.

The New York Times

Automakers also involve component manufacturers in the design process to eliminate costly time-consuming reengineering later.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "costly time" when you want to emphasize that time has a significant financial or resource implication. This can be effective in business, project management, and efficiency-related contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "costly time" in everyday conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and may not be appropriate. Simpler phrases like "a waste of time" or "time-consuming" may be better suited.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "costly time" functions as an adjective-noun combination where 'costly' modifies 'time'. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that time is a valuable resource with significant financial implications, often used to describe situations where delays or inefficiencies lead to financial losses. It emphasizes the economic impact associated with the passage or expenditure of time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "costly time" is a grammatically correct and semantically valid phrase used to denote time that carries a significant financial burden. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, and while not overly frequent, it appears most often in news, media, and scientific contexts. It's best employed in formal settings where highlighting the economic impact of time is crucial. While alternatives like "expensive time" and "valuable time" exist, "costly time" specifically emphasizes the financial cost associated with time, making it a precise choice when that's the key message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expensive time

Replaces "costly" with a direct synonym, emphasizing the high price or value associated with the time.

valuable time

Shifts the focus from monetary cost to the inherent worth of the time.

precious time

Emphasizes the importance and limited nature of time.

irreplaceable time

Highlights the uniqueness and impossibility of recovering the specific time period.

critical time

Emphasizes the importance of time in a specific critical situation.

time is money

Uses a common idiom to equate time directly with financial cost.

premium time

Suggests a higher value or urgency associated with the time.

time wasted

Focuses on the negative consequence of not using time effectively.

lost time

Highlights the time that has been squandered or cannot be recovered.

significant time

Indicates the amount of time is substantial and worth noting.

FAQs

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

You can use "costly time" to emphasize the financial implications of time spent on a task or project. For example, "Delays in the project resulted in "costly time" for the company".

What is a good alternative to "costly time"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "expensive time", "valuable time", or "time is money".

Is "costly time" the same as "time-consuming"?

"Costly time" emphasizes the financial aspect of time, while "time-consuming" simply indicates that something takes a lot of time. They are related but not interchangeable. A task can be time-consuming without being particularly costly, and vice versa.

In what situations is it best to use "costly time"?

It's best to use "costly time" in formal or professional contexts where the financial impact of time is a key consideration, such as business reports, project proposals, or economic analyses.