it costs about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it costs about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when providing an approximate price or cost of an item or service. Example: "The new smartphone costs about $800, which is a reasonable price for its features."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It costs £15 ( www.totalwardrobecare.co.uk).co.uk

Independent

It costs 400 bucks.

The New York Times - Magazine

It costs £24.

The Guardian

It costs £6.

The Guardian

It costs £1, not 1 euro.

The New York Times

"Now it costs €5 – 1,500 drachmas.

Independent

It costs £20 to join.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It costs £2.70 an hour.

The Guardian - Travel

"Today, it costs 100 pigs".

The New York Times

It costs €8 in France.

The Guardian - Sport

Now, it costs 30,000 dinars.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it costs about", ensure the context clarifies what 'it' refers to. Be specific about the item or service to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid providing overly precise figures after using "it costs about". For instance, don't say, "It costs about $100.27." Stick to round numbers when estimating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it costs about" functions as a declarative statement providing an estimated price or value. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct. While there are no direct examples, the phrase structure is straightforward and commonly understood.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it costs about" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express an approximate cost. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Since there are limited usage examples, it's important to ensure clarity in context when using this phrase. Alternative phrases, such as "it is roughly" or "it is approximately", can be used to convey a similar meaning, depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's approximately

Replaces "costs about" with a more formal adverb indicating approximation.

it is roughly

Uses "roughly" instead of "about" to denote an estimated cost.

it's in the neighborhood of

Indicates a cost within a certain range, implying approximation.

it's around

A more casual way of saying it's approximately this price.

it's estimated to be

Emphasizes the speculative nature of the cost.

it's in the vicinity of

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", suggesting an approximate range.

it will set you back approximately

More descriptive and indicates the expenditure involved.

the approximate cost is

More formal phrasing with "approximate cost".

it comes to roughly

Focuses on the total amount, using "roughly" for approximation.

it's something like

Casual way of indicating an estimated cost.

FAQs

How can I use "it costs about" in a sentence?

Use "it costs about" when you want to give an approximate price, not an exact one. For example, "The repair "it costs about" $50."

What's a more formal alternative to "it costs about"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "it is approximately" or "the estimated cost is".

Is it okay to use "it costs about" in business writing?

While generally acceptable, using "it costs about" might be too informal for some business contexts. Consider using a more precise estimate or a phrase like "the approximate cost is".

What's the difference between "it costs about" and "it costs exactly"?

"It costs about" indicates an estimation, whereas "it costs exactly" implies a precise and confirmed price. They are opposites in meaning.