extra expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extra expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to additional costs that are not included in the original budget or plan. Example: "The unexpected repairs to the roof resulted in an extra expense that we had not anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Why the extra expense?

The Guardian - Tech

"And now we have this extra expense".

The New York Times

Jeff Johnson, Baquet said, "never questioned" the extra expense.

The New Yorker

Because of some ancillary features, it may well be worth the extra expense.

The New York Times - Tech

More pharmacies won't carry them because they don't want the extra expense of storage and paperwork.

The New York Times

In addition, there is the extra expense of building the capture plant and the injection pipelines.

The Economist

It will, she believes, keep downward pressure on the infection rate without too much extra expense.

The Economist

In interviews, developers like Mr. Brodsky downplayed any extra expense required to realize the architects' visions.

The New York Times

Other small colleges, however, have decided the extra expense is worthwhile.

The New York Times - Sports

The extra expense was covered by using a rainy-day fund of $1.4 million.

The New York Times - Arts

Some charter customers say the benefits far outweigh any extra expense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budget overruns, use "extra expense" to clearly indicate costs exceeding the initial plan. This provides transparency and helps stakeholders understand the financial impact.

Common error

Avoid using "extra expense" as a euphemism for deliberately concealed or poorly accounted costs. Transparency is key; "extra expense" should reflect genuinely unforeseen or additional needs, not misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extra expense" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It identifies and labels an additional or unexpected financial burden. Ludwig shows examples across varied contexts, supporting its role as a clear and direct designator of added costs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extra expense" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an additional cost or financial burden. According to Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and business contexts. While alternatives like "additional cost" or "supplementary charge" exist, "extra expense" offers a clear and direct way to communicate unexpected or budget-exceeding costs. It's essential to use the phrase transparently, ensuring it reflects genuine additional expenses rather than concealed costs. The frequent usage across authoritative sources confirms its widespread acceptability and practical utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

additional cost

Replaces "expense" with "cost", a more general term for money spent.

supplementary charge

Replaces "extra" with "supplementary" and "expense" with "charge", suggesting an additional fee.

added expenditure

Uses "expenditure" which is a more formal synonym of "expense", creating a slightly more formal tone.

incremental outlay

Both "incremental" and "outlay" are more formal terms, increasing the formality of the phrase.

unanticipated cost

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the expense.

unforeseen expense

Similar to "unanticipated cost", highlighting the surprise element.

unexpected outlay

Combines the unexpected nature with the more formal term "outlay".

additional financial burden

Shifts the focus to the impact of the expense, emphasizing the burden it creates.

increased financial commitment

Highlights the ongoing nature of the expense as a commitment.

extra financial obligation

More formal and emphasizes the obligatory nature of the expense.

FAQs

How can I use "extra expense" in a sentence?

You can use "extra expense" to describe an additional cost beyond the initial budget, such as, "The repairs to the foundation resulted in an "extra expense" that we hadn't anticipated."

What are some alternatives to "extra expense"?

Alternatives include "additional cost", "supplementary charge", or "added expenditure", depending on the level of formality required.

What's the difference between "extra expense" and "unexpected cost"?

"Extra expense" generally refers to any additional cost, while "unexpected cost" specifically highlights that the cost was not foreseen. You might use "unexpected cost" when the surprise element is important.

Is it always negative to have an "extra expense"?

While often used in the context of budget overruns or financial strain, an "extra expense" isn't inherently negative. It simply denotes a cost beyond what was originally planned, and could be for a beneficial upgrade or investment.