high expense

USAGE SUMMARY

"high expense" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It can refer to a high cost of something, for example, "The high expense of the new apartment was too much for us to bear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Because of the high expense, AIDS treatment is rare in Africa.

The New York Times

The association has invested in a cable television network, TVG, which has a small audience but a high expense tag.

The New York Times - Sports

Across the country, politicians and labor groups derided the company's health plans for their high expense and bare-bones coverage.

The New York Times

The high expense of oxygen equipment — which cost Medicare over $1.8 billion last year — is hardly an anomaly.

The New York Times

Because of the high expense of filmmaking, the screenplay usually languishes, never to be seen at a theater near you.

The New York Times - Magazine

She recognised cultural and religious barriers, as well as the high expense of staffing government health clinics that were barely frequented.

The Guardian

High expense demands high ratings, of course, and CBS, like other networks, has shown it can have little tolerance for new programs that don't perform.

The New York Times

Isn't there a danger that areas of high expense will experience decision-making by accountants while the NHS tends to leave it to clinical practitioners?

The Guardian

Aside from the relatively high expense of the individual titles, I discovered that there was no way to share the book with my sisters.

The New York Times

They tend to have high expense ratios.

Forbes

Your 30-cent windfall could more than make up for a high expense ratio.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budgets or financial reports, use "high expense" to directly and clearly communicate that a cost is significantly above average or expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "high expense" when the adjective "expensive" is more appropriate. "Expensive" directly describes the item, whereas "high expense" refers to the level or amount of the expenditure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "high expense" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, with examples showing its use in describing financial burdens or prohibitive costs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

27%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "high expense" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that denotes a substantial financial cost. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It commonly appears in news, scientific, and business contexts, serving to communicate information about budgets, investments, and financial burdens. While suitable for formal communication, it's important to consider more informal alternatives like "pricey" or "costly" depending on the context. When writing, use "high expense" to refer to a significantly above-average cost or expenditure and be mindful not to replace adjective "expensive" with it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Significant cost

Focuses on the magnitude of the cost, rather than explicitly stating it's "high".

Substantial expenditure

Replaces "expense" with a more formal term, emphasizing the act of spending.

Considerable outlay

Similar to expenditure, but highlights the initial investment or disbursement.

Large financial burden

Shifts the focus to the impact of the cost, portraying it as a weight or difficulty.

Prohibitive price

Emphasizes that the cost is so high it prevents purchase or access.

Excessive charges

Highlights that the costs are not necessarily justified or reasonable.

Costly affair

Informal expression indicating something resulted in a significant amount of money spent.

Extravagant spending

Suggests wasteful or unnecessary spending, implying the "expense" is not just high, but also perhaps unwise.

Dearness

Highlights the state of being highly priced or costly; a more formal way to express "high expense".

Premium price tag

Focuses on the high price relative to other comparable items or services.

FAQs

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

You can use "high expense" to describe something costly, for example: "The project was abandoned due to the "high expense" of materials."

What's an alternative to "high expense"?

Alternatives include "significant cost", "substantial expenditure", or "considerable outlay" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "high cost" or "high expense"?

Both phrases are acceptable. "High cost" is more general, while "high expense" often refers to a specific expenditure or budget item.

Can "high expense" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

While generally suitable, "high expense" is more appropriate for formal or neutral contexts. In informal settings, consider using phrases like "pricey" or "costly".