incurring costs

USAGE SUMMARY

"incurring costs" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of spending money or resources for a particular purpose or project. You can use it whenever you want to convey the idea of bearing expenses or taking on financial obligations. Example: The company is incurring high costs for their new advertising campaign.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By incurring costs in these markets, it greatly reduces the currency translation problem.

The Economist

"They cannot manufacture standing by incurring costs in anticipation of nonimminent harms," he wrote of the plaintiffs.

The New York Times

By classifying its army of drivers as independent contractors, Uber has avoided incurring costs such as the minimum wage, overtime, healthcare benefits and reimbursing drivers for their mileage.

The Guardian - Tech

Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, passed after the American civil war, the federal government is forbidden from incurring costs that have not been explicitly authorised by Congress.

The Guardian

"While it's not as exact as a certified property appraisal, it can serve to prepare for the unexpected before incurring costs or wasting time".

The New York Times

Hammond added: "In any case, we expect any commitments incurring costs to be managed within existing overall departmental expenditure limit totals".

The Guardian - Business

The Delphi Corporation, an auto parts maker, said yesterday that it was eliminating 6,100 jobs, incurring costs that led to a first-quarter loss of $51 million.

The New York Times

First, when you buy a currency in the UK the bank has to first acquire it on your behalf, incurring costs which are passed on to you.

The Guardian - Travel

Those who have been left unable to make routine payments, such as rent, mortgage or utility bills, have been told to contact their branch to avoid incurring costs.

Independent

Dr. Lauer wrote in a commentary about cardiac tests, "Most physicians who order imaging tests experience no consequences for incurring costs for procedures of unproven value.

The New York Times

This morning the judges will explain why they have refused to protect Mrs Litvinenko from incurring costs in her attempt to overturn Ms May's decision.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budget planning or financial forecasting, use "incurring costs" to clearly indicate when expenses will be recognized. For instance, "The project plan outlines when we anticipate "incurring costs" for materials and labor."

Common error

Instead of stating "Costs are being incurred", use the active voice: "The company is "incurring costs". This makes your writing more direct and easier to understand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incurring costs" functions as a verb phrase where "incurring" (present participle of "incur") acts as a verb describing the action of becoming subject to costs, and "costs" is the object noun. As Ludwig AI states, it accurately describes the action of spending or becoming liable for expenses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

47%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incurring costs" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression across diverse domains, including News & Media and Science. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes the action of becoming subject to expenses or spending money, with nuances suitable for both formal and informal settings. The phrase is most effectively employed in active voice to enhance clarity and precision. Related phrases include "bearing expenses", "taking on expenditures", and "sustaining losses", each offering slightly different shades of meaning. To avoid misunderstanding, keep in mind that incurring costs is not paying the costs, but about to become liable of such.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bearing expenses

Focuses on the act of carrying or managing expenses.

sustaining losses

Highlights the negative financial impact or detriment.

taking on expenditures

Emphasizes the acceptance or commencement of spending.

running up debts

Implies accumulating debts as a result of expenses.

generating expenses

Focuses on the creation or origination of costs.

racking up charges

Suggests the accumulation of charges over time.

accumulating liabilities

Highlights the growing amount of financial obligations.

shouldering financial burdens

Focuses on the responsibility of handling monetary obligations.

taking a financial hit

Describes a single, often unexpected, negative financial event.

digging into reserves

Implies using savings or stored funds to cover expenses.

FAQs

How can I use "incurring costs" in a sentence?

You can use "incurring costs" to describe the action of spending money or resources. For example: "The company avoided "incurring unnecessary costs" by optimizing its supply chain".

What are some alternatives to "incurring costs"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "bearing expenses", "taking on expenditures", or "sustaining losses".

Is "incurring expenses" the same as "incurring costs"?

Yes, "incurring expenses" is very similar in meaning to "incurring costs". Both phrases refer to the act of spending money or resources.

What's the difference between "incurring costs" and "paying costs"?

"Incurring costs" refers to the act of becoming liable for expenses, while "paying costs" refers to the act of actually settling those expenses. You incur costs first, then you pay them.