greatest cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "greatest cost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the highest expense or the most significant financial burden associated with a particular decision or action. Example: "When evaluating the project, we must consider the greatest cost involved in its implementation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The work is nearly complete, but that last half-inch comes at the greatest cost.

The Guardian - Books

But the greatest cost has been its poisonous effect on Russian society, which made Mr Nemtsov's murder possible.

The Economist

Interbrew was able to outbid rivals because it expected to wring the greatest cost savings from the deal.

The New York Times

Yet across public services it is schools that bear the greatest cost of poorly treated mental health.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps the greatest cost of allowing these claims, as we teeter on the edge of decades of litigation, is to the fabric of our culture.

The New York Times

Allied will be able to offer the highest price for Seagram's drinks business, he said, because it will also see the greatest cost savings.

The New York Times

Once again, it's the season to anxiously ask who bears the greatest cost if I withhold my vote: the system or me?

The New Yorker

India has shown some reluctance to fully engage in the negotiations, out of fear that a global regime would impose the greatest cost on countries least able to afford them.

The New York Times

It should also create incentive programs to reduce the cost of launching things into orbit, which is still the biggest challenge, and thus the greatest cost, in space flight.

The New York Times

"Biosimilars is one of the greatest cost savings opportunities out there today for health care systems and for countries," Hospira's chief executive, Michael Ball, told Wall Street analysts and investors in a meeting at the company's Lake Forest headquarters earlier this month.

The New York Times

Lt Gen Michael Flynn, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the "greatest cost" of the NSA disclosures was "unknown today, but [what] we will likely face is costs of human lives on tomorrow's battlefield, some place we put our mil[itary] forces when we ask them to go into harm's way".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When analyzing project budgets, use "greatest cost" to pinpoint the area consuming the largest portion of funds, enabling better resource allocation.

Common error

Avoid using "greatest cost" when you actually mean the "greatest benefit". Cost refers to expenses, while benefit refers to advantages or gains. Ensure your word choice accurately reflects the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greatest cost" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the most significant expense or financial burden in a given context. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various domains, reinforcing its grammatical versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

52%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "greatest cost" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the largest expense or financial burden associated with something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. As demonstrated by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. While alternatives such as "highest expense" or "maximum expenditure" exist, "greatest cost" effectively conveys the significance of a particular financial outlay. When writing, ensure you're accurately using "greatest cost" to refer to expenses, and not confusing it with concepts like "greatest benefit".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highest expense

Replaces "cost" with the more formal "expense" emphasizing financial outlay.

most significant expense

Replaces "greatest" with "most significant" to emphasize importance.

maximum expenditure

Uses "expenditure" to denote spending and "maximum" to highlight the upper limit.

largest outlay

Employs "outlay" for the amount of money spent, indicating a significant investment.

biggest financial burden

Highlights the impact of the cost as a "burden", focusing on the financial strain.

topmost cost

Uses "topmost" to mean highest or most prominent in terms of cost.

primary cost driver

Focuses on what causes the high cost, framing it as a "driver".

major financial commitment

Highlights the substantial "commitment" of funds involved.

heaviest financial toll

Uses "toll" to convey the negative impact or consequence of the cost.

principal financial obligation

Replaces "cost" with the more formal "obligation", emphasizing a duty to pay.

FAQs

How can I use "greatest cost" in a sentence?

You can use "greatest cost" to identify the largest expense associated with a project, decision, or situation. For example, "The "greatest cost" of the new marketing campaign was the television advertising spots."

What are some alternatives to saying "greatest cost"?

Alternatives include "highest expense", "maximum expenditure", or "largest outlay". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "greatest cost" or "highest cost"?

"Greatest cost" and "highest cost" are largely interchangeable. However, "greatest cost" might subtly imply a broader consideration of impact beyond just monetary value, while "highest cost" is more directly focused on the numerical expense.

What is the difference between "greatest cost" and "overall cost"?

"Greatest cost" refers to the single largest expense within a set of costs, whereas "overall cost" refers to the total sum of all expenses. For example, labor might be the "greatest cost" in a project, but the "overall cost" includes labor, materials, and overhead.