expenses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expenses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to costs incurred in the course of business or personal finance. Example: "The company's expenses have increased significantly this quarter due to rising material costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I can only assume it's a mistake," George said, when asked why flights to Queensland were approved as expenses to be charged to Sydney Water.

The Guardian

Ministers insisted the accountancy bills were in relation to their work as MPs and that the claims were allowable as parliamentary expenses.

The Guardian

(Expenses are paid by donations, and a few independent well-wishers also run "mirror sites" in support).

The Economist

Unlike some of its rivals it avoided major costs for litigation and legal expenses.

The Guardian - Business

But the publication today of another tranche of management expenses suggests its most senior executives are increasingly parsimonious, at least when it comes to claiming back taxis, hotels and meals.

The Guardian

This shows that the overall figure spent on expenses in the last three months of 2010 was £195,891.01p.

The Guardian

The BBC's 108 highest-paid bosses – including those on salaries of £150,000 or more – reduced the total amount of expenses they claimed in the first three quarters of this financial year by 14.1% compared with the equivalent period in 2009/10.

The Guardian

Humiliated over his wife Iris's affair and the £50,000 loan she secured for her lover; embattled due to allegations about his financial dealings with property developers and revelations over his and his wife's parliamentary expenses, Robinson's position on the surface at least appears to be precarious.

The Guardian

I have on file cases of Britons recently imprisoned for crimes as relatively mild as abusive tweeting, poll-rigging, Boat Race obstructing, cathedral desecrating, job-application falsifying, expenses fiddling, urinatingon a war memorial, speeding-point switching, licence fee non-paying, and googling in court.

The Guardian - Opinion

All these are in addition to the absurd spectacle of PMQs and the House of Lords, and spadocracy and MPs' expenses, which were mentioned by Timothy Garton Ash.

The Guardian

It could well make sense not to accept a lump sum contribution to the purchase of the property but to accept a regular contribution to living expenses instead.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be sure to differentiate between "expenses" and capital expenditures. The former are short-term costs, while the latter are investments in long-term assets.

Common error

Avoid using "expenses" to describe long-term investments or assets. For example, purchasing new equipment should be classified as an investment, not an expense.

Linguistic Context

The term "expenses" primarily functions as a plural noun, denoting costs or expenditures incurred. Ludwig examples showcase it in diverse contexts, often related to finance or budgeting. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "expenses" is a grammatically correct and frequently used plural noun, primarily referring to incurred costs or expenditures. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most often in news and media, as well as in formal business contexts. While it maintains a neutral register, focusing on clear communication regarding financial matters, its usage spans from detailed financial reports to casual mentions of costs. When using "expenses", it's crucial to differentiate it from related terms like "investments" and to provide specific categories for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Expenditures

Focuses on the act of spending money, often in a formal or official context.

Outlays

Highlights the disbursement of funds for a specific purpose or project.

Costs

A general term referring to the amount required to obtain something.

Disbursements

Emphasizes the act of paying out money, often in an official or accounting context.

Overheads

Refers to the ongoing expenses of running a business or organization.

Operating costs

Specifies the expenses associated with the day-to-day running of a business.

Financial burdens

Implies the negative impact of expenses, suggesting they are difficult to manage.

Financial obligations

Highlights the required payments or debts that must be fulfilled.

Debts

Refers to money owed, often as a result of accumulated expenses.

Liabilities

A formal term for financial obligations or debts.

FAQs

How do I use "expenses" in a sentence?

You can use "expenses" to refer to costs incurred, such as "The company's travel "expenses" increased this quarter" or "We need to reduce our operational "expenses"".

What are some alternatives to the word "expenses"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "costs", "expenditures", "outlays", or "disbursements" instead of "expenses".

Is it correct to say "expense" instead of "expenses"?

The word "expense" is the singular form, while "expenses" is plural. Use "expense" when referring to a single cost and "expenses" when referring to multiple costs.

What's the difference between "expenses" and "overheads"?

"Expenses" is a general term for costs, while "overheads" specifically refers to the ongoing operating "expenses" of a business, such as rent and utilities.