expensive and time-consuming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expensive and time-consuming" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a process, task, or project that requires a significant amount of money and time to complete. Example: "The renovation of the old building was both expensive and time-consuming, leading to delays in the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

"Is it expensive and time-consuming?

The New York Times - Science

It was expensive and time-consuming.

The New Yorker

It is expensive and time-consuming.

The Washington Post

Experiments can be expensive and time-consuming.

Harvard Business Review

It's tremendously expensive and time-consuming.

Harvard Business Review

The process is also expensive and time-consuming.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

That's expensive and time consuming.

MIT Technology Review

The process is expensive and time consuming.

Harvard University

It's very expensive and time consuming to be poor.

University of California, Berkeley

Randomized trials are expensive and time consuming, however.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, in practice, this would be expensive and time consuming.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project's feasibility, explicitly state why it's "expensive and time-consuming". Providing specific reasons enhances clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "expensive and time-consuming" as a vague descriptor. Instead, quantify the cost or time involved to give the reader a clearer understanding of the magnitude.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expensive and time-consuming" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe something that requires a significant amount of money and time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expensive and time-consuming" is a grammatically correct and commonly used compound adjective to describe processes or projects requiring significant resources. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys the dual burden of high cost and long duration. While versatile, it's crucial to provide context and quantify the expense or time involved for maximum clarity. Alternatives like "costly and time-intensive" or "resource-intensive and lengthy" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase finds frequent use in news, science, and academic contexts, making it a valuable tool for describing challenges and managing expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

costly and time-intensive

Replaces "expensive" with "costly" and "time-consuming" with "time-intensive", slightly alters the emphasis.

high cost and lengthy

Substitutes "expensive" with "high cost" and "time-consuming" with "lengthy", emphasizing the cost and duration.

prohibitively costly and protracted

Uses stronger terms like "prohibitively costly" and "protracted" to indicate a greater degree of expense and duration.

resource-intensive and lengthy

Replaces both adjectives with broader terms related to required resources and duration, generalizing the meaning.

economically inefficient and protracted

Focuses on the economic inefficiency and prolonged nature of the process.

a drain on resources and time

Shifts from adjectival to a noun phrase, emphasizing the depleting effect on resources and time.

a labor of love

An idiomatic phrase suggesting significant time and effort are involved, usually willingly.

complex and protracted

Focuses more on the complexity and prolonged duration, downplaying the cost aspect.

arduous and lengthy

Highlights the difficulty and prolonged nature, moving away from the explicit cost factor.

complex and resource intensive

Focuses on the complexity and the large consumption of resources.

FAQs

How can I use "expensive and time-consuming" in a sentence?

You can use "expensive and time-consuming" to describe tasks, processes, or projects that require significant financial investment and a lot of time. For example: "The clinical trial process is often "expensive and time-consuming"."

What are some alternatives to "expensive and time-consuming"?

Alternatives include "costly and time-intensive", "high cost and lengthy", or "resource-intensive and lengthy", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "expensive and time-consuming"?

While both words describe a burden, they focus on different aspects. "Expensive" refers to financial cost, while "time-consuming" refers to the duration required. Using both emphasizes the dual burden, making it not necessarily redundant, but context-dependent.

When is it better to use "complex" instead of "expensive and time-consuming"?

If the primary issue is the intricate nature of a task rather than its cost or duration, "complex" is more appropriate. However, if both complexity and resource consumption are significant, "expensive and time-consuming" might still be relevant to convey the full picture.