is too costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is too costly" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase in a sentence when you want to express that something is not affordable due to the price being too expensive. For example: "The computer I want is too costly for me right now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is too costly.

The Economist

Furthermore, it is too costly.

The New York Times

Our health care is too costly.

The New York Times

days; your grace is too costly to wear every day.

Yale University

Encompassing all fighters is too costly and unrealistic.

Independent

And it is too costly to hire someone.

The New York Times

But this approach is too costly for large-scale use.

The Economist

Powering them with the school's generator is too costly.

The Guardian

For others, like Leah Deragon, 34, DirigoChoice is too costly.

The New York Times

Labor in this country is too costly for that task.

The New York Times

But, for nudgers, democracy is too costly and time-consuming.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When arguing that something is too costly, provide specific figures or comparisons to justify your claim. For example, "Implementing this new technology is too costly, requiring an initial investment of $1 million and ongoing maintenance fees."

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something "is too costly" without providing context or evidence. Explain why it's too costly, what the alternatives are, or what the impact of the cost will be.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is too costly" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject as excessively expensive or unaffordable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. Examples throughout the provided data show its use in diverse contexts, from healthcare to construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

23%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is too costly" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is excessively expensive or unaffordable. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, the phrase is used across various contexts, from news articles to academic papers, indicating its wide acceptance. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to provide specific reasons or comparisons to support your assertion. While there are several synonyms like "is too expensive" or "is unaffordable", be mindful of the specific nuance you want to convey. Finally, avoid simply stating that something "is too costly" without offering supporting evidence or justification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is too expensive

Focuses directly on the high price or monetary value.

is prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes that the cost prevents purchase or use.

is unaffordable

Highlights the inability to pay for something.

costs an arm and a leg

An idiom emphasizing extreme expensiveness.

is not economically feasible

Focuses on the economic viability of a project or plan.

is beyond our budget

Indicates that something exceeds available financial resources.

is financially unsustainable

Highlights the long-term financial impracticality.

breaks the bank

An idiom emphasizing that something will deplete one's finances.

is simply not viable

Indicates that a project is impossible due to costs.

entails excessive expenditure

Emphasizes the act of spending a large amount of money.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "is too costly"?

When something "is too costly", it means that the price or expense associated with it is considered excessively high, making it unaffordable or impractical in a given context.

How can I use "is too costly" in a sentence?

You can use "is too costly" to describe something whose price exceeds your budget or is not justifiable given its benefits. For example, "The repairs to my car "are too costly", so I'm buying a new one."

What can I say instead of "is too costly"?

You can use alternatives like "is too expensive", "is unaffordable", or "is prohibitively expensive" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is too costly" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "is too costly" in writing when you want to convey that the financial burden of something is a significant barrier or makes it impractical to pursue. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.