incur basic costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incur basic costs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing expenses or financial obligations that are fundamental or essential to a particular activity or operation. Example: "When starting a new business, you will inevitably incur basic costs such as rent, utilities, and supplies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If the beds are empty they still incur basic costs, but without income.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Endoscopic procedures (diathermy or laser vaporisation, laser enucleation, and transurethral resection) were assumed to incur the same basic costs (2005 NHS reference costs for healthcare resource group (code L28), adjusted for differing length of stay by subtracting bed-day cost calculated from a non-operative code (L09).

British Medical Journal

While these categories do not comprehensively capture the total costs of each household, they represent the major recurring basic costs that each household incurs for their general welfare.

BMJ Open

Newborns also incur higher costs to the health services.

The Guardian

To recap: bosses incur real costs when training their workers.

The New York Times

Private transit service will also incur social costs.

The New York Times

Once you are public, you incur those costs.

TechCrunch

Most often, shelters incur associated costs.

Huffington Post

Such conflicts may incur severe costs.

BMC Ecology

Does the annual habit incur other costs?

Evolutionary Applications

Patients who die after stroke incur less costs.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incur basic costs", ensure the context clearly defines what these "basic costs" entail to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether you're referring to operational, maintenance, or startup costs.

Common error

Avoid only focusing on obvious expenses when planning a budget. Many projects fail because seemingly small, easily overlooked "basic costs" accumulate and become significant financial burdens.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incur basic costs" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of becoming subject to essential or foundational expenses. Ludwig AI confirms this usage by providing examples where the phrase is used to denote the financial responsibilities that arise during various activities, such as running a business or providing healthcare.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

56%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incur basic costs" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies becoming subject to essential expenses. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is usable in a wide array of contexts, from news and media to scientific research. It serves the purpose of informing or explaining financial obligations and is generally considered to be of neutral formality. When using this phrase, be sure to clearly define what constitutes the "basic costs" to avoid any ambiguity. Remember that overlooking hidden basic costs is a common pitfall in project planning. Consider using alternatives such as "bear essential expenses" or "shoulder fundamental costs" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bear essential expenses

Replaces "incur" with "bear" and "basic costs" with "essential expenses", focusing on the act of carrying the financial burden.

shoulder fundamental costs

Uses "shoulder" instead of "incur" to emphasize the responsibility of paying, and "fundamental costs" for essential financial obligations.

assume foundational expenses

Employs "assume" to highlight the acceptance of financial responsibility and replaces "basic costs" with "foundational expenses".

face primary expenditures

Substitutes "incur" with "face" to suggest encountering the costs, and "basic costs" with "primary expenditures" for fundamental spending.

meet core financial obligations

Changes "incur" to "meet" to indicate fulfilling obligations, and rephrases "basic costs" as "core financial obligations".

encounter necessary expenses

Uses "encounter" to convey the experience of dealing with costs, replacing "basic costs" with "necessary expenses".

take on essential financial burdens

Replaces "incur" with "take on" to signify assuming responsibility, and expands "basic costs" to "essential financial burdens".

undertake essential expenditure

Uses "undertake" to imply initiating an action that results in cost, and replaces "basic costs" with "essential expenditure".

sustain essential outlays

Substitutes "incur" with "sustain" to indicate ongoing support of costs, and "basic costs" with "essential outlays".

bear minimum expenses

Replaces "incur" with "bear" and "basic costs" with "minimum expenses", focusing on the act of carrying the lowest financial obligations.

FAQs

How can I use "incur basic costs" in a sentence?

You can use "incur basic costs" to describe the fundamental expenses that are unavoidable when undertaking a project or running a business. For example, "Starting a new business will inevitably "incur basic costs" such as rent and utilities".

What are some alternatives to saying "incur basic costs"?

Some alternatives to "incur basic costs" include "bear essential expenses", "shoulder fundamental costs", or "assume foundational expenses", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to "incur" a cost?

To "incur" a cost means to become subject to it, usually as a result of one's actions or circumstances. It implies that the cost is now a financial obligation that must be addressed. So, saying you "incur basic costs" means that you become responsible to pay for those costs.

Is it better to "incur" costs or "reduce" costs?

Whether it's better to "incur" costs or "reduce" costs depends on the context. "Incurring" costs is a natural part of doing business or undertaking a project. However, the goal is typically to minimize unnecessary costs through strategies to "reduce costs" while still achieving the desired outcome.