expensive costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'expensive costs' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the amount of money needed to purchase something or for a service or activity. An example sentence could be: "The tool I need for this job comes with expensive costs".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"There are no expensive costs," Mr. Mosko said.

The New York Times - Tech

Sinclair also points to the economic benefits of offsetting expensive costs like medical school.

The New York Times - Magazine

A stripped-down service with a fiberboard casket — the legendary pine box is considerably more expensive — costs about $7,500.

Princeton University

And you will find those not by plastering ads on Facebook or on Google at very expensive costs.

Harvard Business Review

The key finding: there's a strong consensus among climate economics experts that we should put a price on carbon pollution to curb the expensive costs of climate change.

The Guardian

That has the potential to destabilize an insurance market, as seniors with more expensive costs could end up lumped together in a high-cost plan.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The most expensive cost $1,810.

The New York Times

Pearl was extremely expensive, costing around $20 billion.

The New York Times

And they can be expensive, costing up to $90.

The New York Times

And CPR classes can be expensive, costing up to $250.

The New York Times

It is also the most expensive, costing $165 million.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "expensive costs" is grammatically sound, consider using more concise alternatives like "high costs" or "exorbitant prices" to avoid redundancy and enhance clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "expensive costs" when the context already implies high expenses. For instance, instead of saying "the project incurred expensive costs due to delays", try "the project's costs increased due to delays" or "the project became more expensive due to delays".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expensive costs" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'expensive' modifies the noun 'costs'. It describes the monetary value or expenditure associated with something, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "expensive costs" is grammatically correct and fairly common, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it's often more effective to use concise alternatives like "high costs" or "exorbitant prices". The phrase functions to highlight significant financial expenditure. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, consider the context to avoid redundancy and enhance clarity in your writing. Its usage is most common in news and media, followed by scientific and academic sources, suggesting a neutral to professional register. By being mindful of these points, you can use the phrase effectively or opt for stronger alternatives for improved writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

high expenses

Replaces "expensive costs" with a more concise and common term.

significant costs

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the costs.

exorbitant prices

Emphasizes the excessive nature of the prices.

prohibitive costs

Highlights that the costs are so high they prevent something from happening.

considerable expense

Similar to "high expenses" but with a slightly more formal tone.

inflated costs

Suggests that costs are higher than they should be.

high expenditure

Focuses on the amount of money spent.

premium prices

Indicates high prices associated with high quality or exclusivity.

substantial outlay

Implies a significant financial investment.

hefty charges

Implies that the costs are unexpectedly large.

FAQs

Is "expensive costs" grammatically correct?

Yes, "expensive costs" is grammatically correct, but it can sometimes be redundant. Using alternatives like "high costs" or "exorbitant prices" may sound more natural.

What are some alternatives to "expensive costs"?

You can use alternatives such as "high expenses", "prohibitive costs", or "significant costs" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "expensive costs"?

While grammatically correct, "expensive costs" is best used when emphasizing both the costly nature and the specific allocation or occurrence of those costs. However, simpler alternatives are often preferred for better conciseness.

How can I avoid redundancy when using "expensive costs"?

Ensure that the context doesn't already imply high costs. If it does, opt for a more concise phrase like "high costs" or rephrase the sentence to emphasize the impact of the costs instead.