cover cost

USAGE SUMMARY

"cover cost" can be used in written English.
It is a phrase that means to pay for or take care of the expenses or fees associated with something. Example: The company will cover the cost of the employee's relocation expenses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Desperate for cash, the developers were looking for money anywhere they could, to help cover cost overruns.

The New York Times

A £2bn provision to cover cost over-runs followed and Livingston was promoted to sort out the mess.

The Guardian - Business

The contractor building a Camden-to-Trenton light-rail system is seeking an additional $140 million from New Jersey Transit to cover cost overruns.

The New York Times

City officials have promised Related that they will set aside a $500 million contingency fund to cover cost overruns on the subway project.

The New York Times

But these one- to five-star ratings are generally more comprehensive than on other sites, since they cover cost, service, ambience, experience, food and overall quality.

The New York Times - Travel

It works like this: a customer can bring in any number of paperbacks and get a credit for a quarter of the cover cost for each book.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Medicare would cover costs beyond that.

The New York Times

That helps cover costs, Ms. Lewis said.

The New York Times

The comprehensive cover costs £130 a year.

The Guardian - Money

VW has set aside €6.5bn to cover costs.

Independent

"I started to work in a pub to cover costs.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial planning, use "cover cost" to clearly indicate the act of paying for or offsetting expenses. For example, "The budget should adequately cover cost overruns."

Common error

Avoid assuming "cover cost" automatically means covering all costs. Specify what portion or types of costs are included to prevent ambiguity. For example, instead of stating "The grant will cover cost", clarify: "The grant will cover travel costs and accommodation." This clarifies exactly what the grant will provide funding for.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cover cost" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of providing sufficient funds or resources to meet an expense or financial obligation. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Reference

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cover cost" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of providing sufficient funds or resources to meet an expense. As Ludwig examples show, it's frequently found in news, business, and financial contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral, it's essential to provide context about which costs are being covered to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "offset expense" and "defray expenses", which can add nuance to your writing. Based on Ludwig AI, the phrase is readily acceptable in written English and is valuable for clear communication about financial matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defray expenses

Implies contributing to or partially covering the expenses.

offset expense

Focuses on balancing an expense, rather than simply covering it.

meet expenditure

Emphasizes the act of fulfilling a financial obligation or need.

absorb charges

Suggests integrating the cost within an existing budget.

pay for outlay

Highlights the payment aspect of covering an expense.

take care of payment

Highlights responsibility for handling the payment.

finance charge

Concentrates on the financial aspect and implies a formal transaction.

shoulder burden

Focuses on accepting responsibility for a financial obligation.

handle monetary responsibility

Focuses more on the overall responsibility rather than direct coverage.

settle financial account

Emphasizes closing or resolving a financial balance.

FAQs

How can I use "cover cost" in a sentence?

You can use "cover cost" to indicate that something will pay for or offset an expense. For example, "The insurance policy will "cover cost" of repairs after the accident."

What are some alternatives to "cover cost"?

Alternatives to "cover cost" include phrases like "offset expense", "defray expenses", or "meet expenditure", which can be used depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "covering cost" instead of "cover cost"?

While "covering cost" can be grammatically correct in certain sentence structures (e.g., "The act of covering cost is essential"), "cover cost" is often used as a more direct and concise phrase to indicate the action of paying for something.

What is the difference between "cover cost" and "reduce cost"?

"Cover cost" means to pay for or offset an expense, while "reduce cost" means to decrease the amount of an expense. For example, a company might implement strategies to "reduce cost" but still need funding to "cover cost".