it costs time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'it costs time' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that an activity requires effort or is a time-consuming task. For example: "Planning a wedding can be a lot of fun, but it costs time and money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It costs money, it costs time, it jeopardises, it raises risks.

The Guardian

Andrianov's 9... Bh6, inducing the exchange with 10 Bh6 Rh6, is structurally justifiable, but it costs time and gives up kingside castling.

The New York Times

This method is available for some cases, but it costs time.

Advances in Difference Equations

It costs time, but is a priority shift worth investing in.

Huffington Post

In the words of Lowe, "it costs time and effort and money to have alliances with the U.S., but we have to [do it]." Increased collaboration within Europe is also deemed crucial.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That system is archaic, disorganized and above all, it's costing time, which makes it difficult to collect relevant information in real-time unless you are a professional.

Huffington Post

I know it's going to cost time and it's going to cost a lot of money,'" he continued.

Huffington Post

"You can make them big, but if you make it ten times bigger, it costs ten times as much," says Weidner.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Getting it wrong will cost time and money, shipping the wrong order back.

WikiHow

It costs them time.

The Guardian - Opinion

And it costs us time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing project management or planning, use "it costs time" to directly address the time implications of a task. This helps to clarify resource allocation and potential delays.

Common error

Ensure the subject of "it" is clear to avoid confusion. For example, instead of saying "Implementing this feature costs time", specify "Implementing this feature costs the development team time" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it costs time" functions as a statement indicating that a particular action or process requires a certain amount of time, often implying that this time expenditure has consequences or trade-offs. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it costs time" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating that an action or process consumes time, often with implications for resource allocation. While Ludwig identifies the frequency as uncommon, the expression appears across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, clarity regarding the subject is key to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "it requires time" or "it consumes time" can provide nuanced meanings. Ludwig confirms the validity of this expression and its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it requires time

Replaces "costs" with "requires", emphasizing the necessity of time.

it consumes time

Substitutes "costs" with "consumes", highlighting the depletion of time.

it takes up time

Uses "takes up" instead of "costs", focusing on the occupation of time.

it demands time

Replaces "costs" with "demands", stressing the need for time.

it is time-consuming

Expresses the idea using an adjective, "time-consuming", rather than a verb.

it necessitates time

Replaces "costs" with "necessitates", indicating that time is essential.

it involves a time investment

Phrases it as an "investment", changing the perspective.

time is needed

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the need for time.

it entails a time commitment

Replaces "costs" with "entails", focusing on the commitment of time.

it stretches the timeline

Implies the cost of time by indicating an increase in the timeline.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it costs time" to sound more formal?

In a formal context, consider using phrases like "it requires a significant time investment", "it necessitates a considerable time commitment", or "it demands a substantial allocation of time" to convey the same meaning as "it costs time".

What are some alternatives to "it costs time" in project management?

In project management, you might use alternatives such as "it impacts the project timeline", "it extends the deadline", or "it consumes valuable project hours" instead of "it costs time".

Is "it costs time" the same as saying "it takes time"?

While similar, "it takes time" is a more general statement about the duration required for something. "It costs time" often implies that the time spent has a trade-off or impact on other activities or resources.

How to use "it costs time" effectively in a sentence?

Use "it costs time" to emphasize that an activity or process is not only time-consuming but also has consequences for time management or resource allocation, making it distinct from merely "taking time".