gauge the cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gauge the cost" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to evaluate or measure the estimated cost of something. For example: We need to gauge the cost of the project before we can make any decisions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

How do you gauge the cost of a military escalation?

The New Yorker

On Tuesday, Lepra presented findings from a study to gauge the cost in the Indian states of Bihar and Odisha.

The Guardian

You can bring a builder along to the viewing to gauge the cost of repairs, but the only way to play it safe is to pay for a full buildings survey.

Independent

The most popular way to gauge the cost of trading stocks is the so-called spread, the difference between the prices that investors are offering to buy and sell a stock at a given moment.

The New York Times

To gauge the cost of this mistake on society at large, Heidegger looked at cosmopolitanism, the rights of man, the rise of science -- what he took to be the social and political counterparts of Western logic and reason -- and saw nothing but the vulgarities of mass society and a soulless technology that had supplanted a once glorious soldier ethic.

The New York Times - Books

Opposition AMs have criticised a lack of clarity, and sources in the NHS say that without more detail it is difficult to gauge the cost of the changes at this stage.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Health services are mining clinical data to gauge the cost-effectiveness of drugs.

The Economist

Economists and analysts are trying to gauge the costs to the economy and consumers if the United States loses its solid-gold credit rating — a move that appears more likely now that the standoff in Washington over government spending has calcified.

The New York Times

It is necessary to be able to gauge the costs of the decommissioning task from the earliest stages of the project (project definition, planning, and project initiation phases of the project lifecycle) through the implementation, commissioning, and operations works.

Nuclear Decommissioning, Waste Management, and Environmental Site Remediation

It is also difficult to gauge the costs of the treatments described, since they are often administered by therapists working for charities on a voluntary basis.

Huffington Post

As more data and evidence emerges regarding the long-term costs and outcomes for patients with CLABSI and other healthcare associated infections, 46 future economic evaluations can incorporate this information to gauge the cost-effectiveness of prevention and quality improvement efforts.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gauge the cost", ensure you clearly define the scope of what costs you are evaluating. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on direct costs when you "gauge the cost". Remember to include indirect costs such as maintenance, training, and potential risks that may impact the overall financial assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gauge the cost" functions as a verb phrase where "gauge" is the verb and "the cost" is the direct object. It's used to express the action of estimating or assessing expenses associated with a particular activity or item, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gauge the cost" is a phrase used to estimate or evaluate the financial implications of something. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is grammatically correct and serves to assess the expense associated with a particular action or item. While simple, the phrase is used across various domains, especially within news, scientific, and business contexts. It's important to consider all direct and indirect expenses, as overlocking them is a common error. Related phrases, such as "assess the expenses" or "determine the cost", offer alternatives with slightly different shades of meaning, focusing on either estimation or more precise calculation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Assess the expenses

Focuses specifically on evaluating monetary expenses.

Determine the expenditure

Emphasizes the process of establishing the amount of money spent.

Evaluate the financial impact

Shifts the focus to the broader financial consequences.

Calculate the outlay

Highlights the estimation of funds disbursed or intended for disbursement.

Estimate the resource consumption

Broadens the scope to include resource usage rather than just monetary cost.

Ascertain the economic effects

Focuses on confirming the economic results or influence.

Quantify the investment

Stresses the act of assigning a numerical value to the resources committed.

Appraise the monetary value

Highlights the process of formally assessing the financial worth.

Figure out the financial burden

Focuses on calculating the load/strain caused by financial implications.

Measure the financial implications

Shifts focus to measuring the consequences rather than a pure calculation.

FAQs

What does "gauge the cost" mean?

To "gauge the cost" means to estimate, measure, or evaluate the expense or financial implications of something, typically before undertaking it.

How can I use "gauge the cost" in a sentence?

You might say, "We need to "evaluate the cost" of the new marketing campaign before launching it" or "It's important to "determine the expenditure" for this project to stay within budget".

What are some alternatives to "gauge the cost"?

Alternatives include phrases like "assess the expenses", "determine the cost", or "evaluate the financial impact", each offering slightly different nuances depending on the context.

Is it better to use "gauge the cost" or "determine the cost"?

While both are acceptable, "gauge the cost" implies an estimation or approximation, whereas "determine the cost" suggests a more precise calculation. Choose the phrase that best reflects the level of accuracy you intend to convey.