ecologically costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ecologically costly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions, products, or processes that have a negative impact on the environment or ecosystem. Example: "The production of plastic bags is ecologically costly, contributing to pollution and harming wildlife."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Nevertheless, the fact that the mating preferences of female manakins have caused males to develop heavier, more ecologically costly bones emphasises how powerful an evolutionary driver sexual selection can be.

BBC

Second, our results also indicate that genetic adaptation to pollution is ecologically costly, given the fast loss of carbaryl tolerance upon release from the selection and earlier measures of costs upon exposure to additional stressors such as parasites (Jansen et al. 2011).

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A specific conservation prior should be used to avoid a population slipping from scenario 2 to scenario 1 as this will result in 'conservation fire fighting and life support' which, by its very nature, is economically costly and ecologically difficult.

Evolutionary Applications

In the long run, this is likely to be the more ecologically sound, less costly, and more efficient the more sustainable course of action.

Plosone

Generalism is predicted to be costly both ecologically through the necessity of finding suitable habitats or hosts (Devictor et al. 2010 Poisot et al. 2011a) and evolutionarily due to tradeoffs with other fitness-determining traits (Bakke et al. 2002 Egas et al. 2004 Ravigné et al. 2009).

Ecological Processes

They were much better reflectors than a commercial reflection material and were more reflective than silica particles previously synthesized from tetraethyl-orthosilicate, suggesting that sodium silicate is a more ecologically compatible and less costly alternative material for the synthesis of reflective hollow silica particles.

Materials Research Bulletin

A traditional strategy is to raise soil pH by application of lime, thus alleviating Al-toxicity; however, the approach is both costly and ecologically unsound from the long-term point of view.

BMC Genomics

Our dependence on foreign oil has proved costly, politically and ecologically, and we must continue to push for energy legislation that will benefit both our national security and our environment.

The New York Times

These projects are a more costly, not typically ecologically successful, and commonly call for wetland relocation resulting in the extirpation of local populations.

Ecological Processes

Some additional fuel will be provided in the form of "unconventional" oil -- that is, liquids derived from the costly, hazardous, and ecologically unsafe extraction processes involved in producing tar sands, shale oil, and deep-offshore oil -- but this will only postpone the contraction in petroleum availability, not avert it.

Huffington Post

The problem has roots in the fact that ecologically sustainable buildings are often initially more costly compared to ordinary ones.

Procedia Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ecologically costly" when comparing different options, especially when some appear cheaper in the short term but have significant long-term environmental consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "ecologically costly" loosely to only mean "environmentally damaging". The phrase specifically implies that there is an economic burden associated with the ecological damage, so ensure both elements are present in your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ecologically costly" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing something that has a significant economic impact due to its effect on the environment or ecosystem. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ecologically costly" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something with significant economic and ecological consequences. According to Ludwig AI, it's a valid and useful expression. While "ecologically costly" is relatively rare, it is most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts. Use "ecologically costly" to emphasize both the environmental and economic impacts of a decision or activity. Consider alternatives like "environmentally expensive" or "ecologically damaging" to fine-tune your meaning. Always ensure your writing is precise and contextually appropriate to effectively convey the dual impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

environmentally expensive

Replaces "ecologically" with "environmentally", focusing on the broader environmental impact.

environmentally damaging

Shifts the focus to the harm caused to the environment, rather than the cost.

ecologically damaging

Focuses on the harm to the ecology without explicitly mentioning cost.

environmentally unsustainable

Highlights the lack of sustainability due to environmental factors.

ecologically unsustainable

Highlights the lack of ecological sustainability.

environmentally unsound

Indicates that something is not environmentally healthy or safe.

ecologically unsound

Indicates that something is not ecologically healthy or safe.

detrimental to the environment

Emphasizes the harmful effects on the environment.

harmful to the ecosystem

Specifies that the harm is directed towards the ecosystem.

ecologically detrimental

Emphasizes the harmful effects on ecology.

FAQs

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

You can use "ecologically costly" to describe processes or products that have significant environmental and economic drawbacks. For instance, "The continued use of fossil fuels is "ecologically costly" due to pollution and resource depletion".

What are some alternatives to saying "ecologically costly"?

Alternatives include "environmentally expensive", "environmentally damaging", or "ecologically damaging", depending on whether you want to emphasize the economic or environmental aspect.

Is "ecologically costly" the same as "environmentally costly"?

While similar, "ecologically costly" specifically refers to costs related to the ecosystem, whereas "environmentally costly" is broader and can include any environmental impact. The best choice depends on the specific context.

When should I use "ecologically costly" instead of "environmentally harmful"?

Use "ecologically costly" when you want to emphasize both the environmental damage and the associated economic costs. If the primary focus is simply the environmental harm, "environmentally harmful" may be more appropriate.