it costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it costly" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "it is costly"? You can use the corrected phrase when discussing the high expense of something. Example: "The new software is great, but I must warn you that it is costly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Its IOS program is proprietary, making it costly for customers to defect to other suppliers.But that is where the parallels end.

The Economist

And, boy, was it costly.

The Guardian - Sport

"Is it costly?" he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

An individual finds it costly to obtain information on a borrower's creditworthiness.

The Economist

A notoriously nitpicky EU agricultural policy made it costly for small farmers to maintain their stocks.

The Economist

German labor laws normally make it costly and time-consuming to let permanent employees go.

The New York Times

Isn't it costly to attend a meditation retreat at the Chopra Center?

The New York Times - Magazine

But the competition for that money is fierce, making it costly.

The New York Times

Like Spain, Germany has labour laws that make it costly to shed tenured workers.

The Economist

If the new investors were to become disgruntled, they may find it costly to sell in a hurry.

The Economist

And yet the very things that make the board uncomfortable could make it costly to leave behind.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While the phrase "it costly" appears in numerous publications, it's grammatically incorrect. Always use the grammatically correct form "it is costly" or consider using synonyms like "expensive" or "high-priced" for clearer and more standard English.

Common error

Avoid placing the adjective directly after "it" without a linking verb (such as "is" or "seems"). The correct structure is "it is + adjective". Using "it costly" without the linking verb can create grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it costly" functions as a subject complement, attempting to describe the subject (it) with an adjective. However, it requires a linking verb (like 'is') to be grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI indicates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While "it costly" is frequently used across various sources, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "it is costly". This phrase is used to express that something has a high price or involves significant expense, and it appears most often in news and media. For clearer and more grammatically sound writing, consider using alternatives like "it is expensive" or "it is high-priced". Remember to always include the linking verb "is" when using adjectives to describe "it".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is expensive

Replaces the adjective before the noun with a more grammatically standard structure.

it is high-priced

Replaces "costly" with another adjective denoting high price, also using standard grammar.

it carries a high cost

Shifts the focus to the financial burden using the term "high cost".

it comes at a premium

Implies extra value or exclusivity that increases the price.

it is unaffordable

Highlights the inability to pay for something.

it represents a major expense

Emphasizes the significance of the cost involved.

it breaks the bank

An idiomatic expression indicating that something is extremely expensive.

it drains resources

Focuses on the consumption of assets or funds.

it is resource-intensive

Implies that it requires a lot of money, materials, or effort.

it demands a significant investment

Highlights the need for considerable financial input.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it costly"?

The grammatically correct way to express this idea is to say "it is costly". You can also use synonyms like "it is expensive" or "it is high-priced".

When should I use "it is costly" in a sentence?

Use "it is costly" when you want to indicate that something has a high price or involves significant expense. For example, "Implementing the new system "it is costly", but it will improve efficiency".

Are there alternatives to saying "it is costly"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "it is expensive", "it is pricey", or "it is high priced". Each of these can convey a similar meaning.

What is the difference between "it is costly" and "it is expensive"?

While ""it is costly"" and "it is expensive" are largely interchangeable, "expensive" is generally more common in everyday conversation. "Costly" might be preferred in more formal or technical contexts.