expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'expense' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to an outlay of money for an activity or to buy something. Example sentence: This travel expense was a lot more than I had anticipated.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most of their expected gains will come at the expense of Fianna Fail.

The Guardian

Network Rail has warned that meaningful cuts in its budget can only come at the expense of a smaller railway that will have to carry fewer passengers than the 1.3bn journeys it managed in 2009.

The Guardian

Aleksandr Kokorin Only 23 and a relative newcomer to the international stage, the Dynamo Moscow player has emerged as first-choice striker under Fabio Capello and is expected to retain that position in Brazil at the expense of the experienced Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

The Guardian - Sport

Upgrades such as installing a warning light system mean more expense, management and do not eliminate risk.

The Guardian

We can't keep pushing through trade deals that benefit multinational companies at the expense of workers".

The Guardian

If we let banks rebuild themselves, it will take years and be at the expense of customers, either in being refused credit or being charged an arm and a leg for it.

The Guardian - Business

They said: "Voters have gone to them from the Lib Dems and Labour and the fear factor that the Conservatives have driven in England of the SNP holding the balance of power has clearly driven voters towards them, at the expense of the Lib Dems and arguably more dramatically Labour".

The Guardian

Despite the anti-Thatcher cheers, and jokes at her expense, there was little triumphalism.

The Guardian

The provisional leadership that replaced him engineered constitutional changes to enhance parliamentary powers at the expense of the executive.

The Guardian

Related: Empire: the outrageous black family drama that's changing the look of US TV There are other reasons to cut the show loose, first and foremost being simple expense.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We must hope the next government doesn't make the same mistake as this one by protecting NHS budgets at the expense of local government and social care.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business financials, clearly distinguish between "expenses" and "revenue" to provide a transparent financial overview.

Common error

Avoid using "expense" when describing spending that is expected to yield future returns. Use "investment" instead to accurately reflect the intent and potential outcome.

Linguistic Context

The word "expense" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the cost required for something; a spending or consuming of resources. According to Ludwig, the word is correct and usable in written English, which confirms its proper function in the language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expense" is a versatile noun denoting cost or expenditure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science contexts. When writing about costs, remember to distinguish between pure "expenses" and "investments" and consider related terms like "cost", "expenditure", or "outlay" for nuanced meanings. Pay attention to the spelling: "expense".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expenditure

Focuses on the act of spending money; similar to "expense" but often implies a more formal or significant outlay.

cost

Refers to the amount required to buy, produce, or maintain something; a direct synonym for "expense".

outlay

Emphasizes the money that is spent, particularly for a specific purpose or project.

charge

Indicates a price asked for goods or services; it can be an "expense" for the buyer.

disbursement

Highlights the action of paying out money, especially from a fund or account.

payment

The act of paying money; it's the fulfilling of a financial obligation.

sacrifice

Highlights what is given up or lost in order to achieve something, often with a negative connotation.

price

The amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something.

investment

Implies spending money with the expectation of future profit or benefit, distinguishing it from a pure "expense".

overhead

Refers to the general costs of running a business, such as rent and utilities.

FAQs

How to use "expense" in a sentence?

You can use "expense" to refer to a cost incurred. For example, "The travel "expense" for the conference was higher than expected."

What can I say instead of "expense"?

You can use alternatives like "cost", "expenditure", or "outlay" depending on the specific context. For instance, you might say "the total "cost"" or "the project "expenditure"".

Which is correct, "business expense" or "business expence"?

"Business expense" is the correct spelling. The word is spelled with an 's' not a 'c'.

What's the difference between "expense" and "loss"?

"Expense" refers to a cost incurred for something, while "loss" refers to something that is lost or the disadvantage resulting from losing something. You can incur an "expense" in attempt to avoid a "loss".