cumulative cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cumulative cost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the total cost that accumulates over time or as a result of multiple factors or expenses. Example: "The cumulative cost of the project exceeded our initial budget due to unforeseen expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The downside, however, is the cumulative cost.

The New York Times

The cumulative cost over 60 years of freezing Heathrow's capacity runs to between £60bn and £70bn.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the cumulative cost over the first seven years would still be a manageable €53 billion.

The New York Times

The total cumulative cost of the disaster so far has now hit $43.5 billion.

The Economist

It estimates that the cumulative cost to British business by the end of 2001 will exceed £13 billion.

The Economist

The BCC has calculated that the cumulative cost of new regulations between 1998 and mid-2005 comes to £39 billion.

The Economist

In working on this column, I looked at a bunch of lawyers' Web sites, at a cumulative cost to them of, oh, $1,000.

The New York Times

Osborne will warn of an enormous economic cost, which could cut global GDP by 3.5%, a cumulative cost of $100bn£70bnbn).

The Guardian

Subsidies for renewable energy are running at €16 billion a year in Germany (and rising); the cumulative cost is around €60 billion.Next, utilities have lost their investment role.

The Economist

The cumulative cost of Bush's wars relative to the G.D.P. was actually less than a third that of World War II.

The New York Times - Books

He estimates that the coursework alone now costs nearly three hundred thousand dollars, and, with the additional auditing and contributions expected of upper-level members, the cumulative cost of the coursework may exceed half a million dollars.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When calculating the "cumulative cost", clearly define the timeframe and all included cost factors to ensure accurate and transparent reporting.

Common error

Be aware of indirect or hidden costs that may not be immediately apparent but contribute significantly to the "cumulative cost" over time, such as maintenance, training, or disposal fees.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cumulative cost" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It represents a total amount that is accumulated over time. Ludwig examples show it used to describe economic costs, disaster costs, and the expenses of regulations. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cumulative cost" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term referring to the total expenses accumulated over a period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and widely applicable. Its versatility is evident across various contexts, predominantly in news, science, and business. When employing this phrase, be sure to clearly define the scope and timeframe to ensure accuracy. Alternatives like "total cost" or "aggregate cost" can be used depending on the context. Be mindful of hidden costs to provide a complete financial picture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

total cost

Focuses on the sum of expenses, similar to the original query.

aggregate cost

Highlights the combined expense from multiple sources, close to the original meaning.

overall expense

Emphasizes the final amount spent, similar to "cumulative cost".

combined expense

Highlights the merging of multiple costs into one figure.

accumulated expenses

Focuses on the process of gathering costs over time.

total expenditure

Uses a more formal term for spending, akin to "cumulative cost".

additive cost

Indicates that the cost is the result of adding up individual expenses.

accrued expenses

Describes expenses that have been gathered over a period of time.

consolidated cost

Highlights combining various costs into a single figure.

life cycle cost

Considers all expenses throughout the lifespan of a product or service.

FAQs

How is "cumulative cost" calculated?

The "cumulative cost" is calculated by adding up all costs incurred over a specific period. It includes both direct and indirect expenses related to a project, product, or service.

What is another way to say "cumulative cost"?

Alternatives to "cumulative cost" include "total cost", "aggregate cost", or "overall expense".

What's the difference between "cumulative cost" and "incremental cost"?

"Cumulative cost" refers to the total cost over time, while "incremental cost" refers to the additional cost of producing one more unit or taking one more action.

How can I reduce the "cumulative cost" of a project?

Strategies to reduce the "cumulative cost" involve efficient resource management, proactive risk assessment, and continuous monitoring of expenses throughout the project lifecycle.