Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

fee a fortune for

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fee a fortune for" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "pay a fortune for"? If this is the case, you can use it when discussing the high cost of something, indicating that it is very expensive. Example: "I had to pay a fortune for my new car, but I think it was worth it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Wallace enjoyed charging us the $10 write-up fee (a fortune for people in prison) and giving us extra "work" duty, which, since most of us didn't have actual jobs, meant having us pick up rocks on the rec yard and pile them in a corner.

News & Media

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Before coming to the United States, Signal's recruiters forced the workers to pay up to $20,000 in recruiting fees, a fortune for a middle-class Indian.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Telecommunications investment banking fees made a fortune for Mr. Weill's company.

News & Media

The New York Times

"They would pay a fortune for that".

News & Media

The New York Times

They all made a fortune for the studio," he added.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

Peter de Jager, a Canadian consultant and incessant Y2K proselytizer who made a fortune in fees for his public appearances, appears to be taking a breather.

News & Media

Forbes

During that time, delegates have reportedly collected sitting and transport fees ranging from roughly $130 per day for Lusaka-based delegates to $260 per day for non-Lusaka-based delegates - a small fortune for most Zambian people.

News & Media

Huffington Post

But as long as rich companies are prepared to pay outrageous fees to make fortunes for law firms, there will always be young lawyers clamouring to have a slice of the action, whatever their personal sacrifices.

Mr. Walker of American Program Bureau said that he had recently booked a "major, major TV icon" who generally earns $75,000 for a speaking appearance at an event at a Fortune 100 technology company for one-third the normal fee.

News & Media

The New York Times

Why? Few want a public row with such an illustrious name as Shell and some will have an investment banking arm making a fortune out of the fees for arranging this buyout.

Mr. Liu said he typically charged a flat fee of about $2,500 for an appeal, a fortune to clients and a pittance by the standards of large firms, which routinely charge $100,000 and more for an appeal.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the incorrect phrase, consider the specific context. Are you talking about the cost of legal fees, membership fees, or other types of charges? Being specific will enhance the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid placing "fee" directly before "a fortune". The correct structure involves verbs like "cost", "pay", or "charge" followed by "a fortune" to describe the expense.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fee a fortune for" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase does not follow standard English grammar rules. A correct alternative should employ a verb like "cost", "pay", or "charge" to describe the expense.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fee a fortune for" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is not recognized in standard English usage. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "cost a fortune in fees" or "pay a fortune for fees" to accurately convey the intended meaning of high expenses related to charges. Remember to use correct sentence structure to maintain clarity and professionalism in your writing.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something costs a lot in fees?

You can say it "costs a fortune in fees" or that you "pay a fortune in fees". For example: "Legal battles often "cost a fortune in fees"".

What's a similar phrase to describe high expenses related to charges?

A similar phrase is to say someone "charges a fortune for fees". For example: "Some lawyers "charge a fortune for fees", especially in complex cases".

Is it grammatically correct to use "fee" as a verb in this context?

No, "fee" is typically a noun, not a verb. Therefore, "fee a fortune" is not grammatically correct. Use verbs like "cost", "pay", or "charge" instead.

Can I use "fee a fortune" in any context?

No, "fee a fortune" is not recognized as a standard or grammatically correct expression in English. It is advisable to avoid this phrase and use established alternatives.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: