costs escalated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "costs escalated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where expenses have increased significantly over time or due to certain factors. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the costs escalated beyond our initial budget projections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

One larger project in Illinois, FutureGen, was abandoned by the Bush administration as costs escalated.

The New York Times

At the same time, production costs rose sharply, as fuel costs escalated.

The Guardian - Business

Critics note that NASA has announced ambitious rocket plans before, only to cancel them as costs escalated and schedules slipped.

The New York Times - Science

In the past 18 months, as delays have mounted and costs escalated, even some of the plane's ardent fans have become alarmed.

The Economist

But as construction costs escalated in 2008, Toll Brothers turned to a nonunion contractor for the second tower, prompting unions to protest with five giant inflatable rats.

The New York Times

One problem, Mr. Howard said by phone from his home in Greenwich, Conn., was that star salaries and movie-making costs escalated sharply in the late 1980's, throwing Imagine's business plan off stride.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Costs escalate when medical care is included.

The Economist

Postponing highway repairs actually increases future deficits, because costs escalate so rapidly when maintenance is deferred.

The New York Times

Even if costs escalate, as they almost certainly will, the risk-reward ratio should still look pretty favourable.

The Economist

With all of these costs escalating airport operators say building terminals with shared resources makes economic sense.

The New York Times

Lansley says the roots of the current problem lie with Labour's record – especially of letting PFI costs escalate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "costs escalated" to convey a significant and often problematic increase in expenses, particularly in project management, budgeting, or economic contexts. It is suitable when you want to highlight the impact of rising costs.

Common error

Avoid using "costs escalated" in very informal settings. While grammatically correct, it carries a level of formality that might seem out of place in casual conversation. Simpler terms like "prices went up" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "costs escalated" functions as a declarative statement indicating that expenses have increased, often unexpectedly or significantly. Ludwig AI examples illustrate its use in describing project overruns, economic impacts, and budget challenges.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "costs escalated" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a significant increase in expenses. According to Ludwig AI, it frequently appears in news and media, science, and wiki sources, denoting a rise in project costs, operational expenditures, or economic burdens. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to professional contexts and can be replaced with alternatives like "expenses increased" or "costs rose" for varied emphasis. When using the term, be mindful of maintaining contextual formality and avoiding overly casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expenses increased

Uses a more general term, "expenses", instead of "costs", and a simpler verb, "increased".

costs rose

Employs a more concise verb, "rose", to convey the increase in costs.

costs soared

Suggests a rapid and significant increase in costs.

expenditures grew

Replaces "costs" with "expenditures", providing a more formal tone, and uses "grew" to indicate an increase.

budgets ballooned

Implies a substantial and often uncontrolled increase in budgets.

outlays surged

Employs "outlays" and "surged" for a more emphatic expression of increasing expenses.

prices climbed

Focuses on the increase in prices as a component of overall costs.

overheads mounted

Specifically refers to the increase in overhead costs.

charges amplified

Uses "charges" to denote costs and "amplified" to illustrate a significant increase.

fees accrued

Indicates the accumulation of fees, leading to higher overall costs.

FAQs

How can I use "costs escalated" in a sentence?

You can use "costs escalated" to describe situations where expenses have significantly increased. For instance, "Due to unforeseen delays, the project's "costs escalated" beyond the initial estimates".

What are some alternatives to "costs escalated"?

Alternatives include "expenses increased", "costs rose", or "budgets ballooned", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "costs have escalated" instead of "costs escalated"?

Yes, "costs have escalated" is grammatically correct and implies a process that has occurred over time, whereas "costs escalated" describes a single instance of increase. Both are acceptable, but the choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "costs escalated" and "prices increased"?

"Costs escalated" generally refers to the overall expenses of a project or operation increasing, while "prices increased" specifically indicates that the price of goods or services has risen. They're similar, but "costs" is broader in scope.