it was expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was expensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something you recently bought or experienced that was more expensive than expected. Example sentence: I went to the store to buy some new shoes, but it was expensive so I decided to wait until they went on sale.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its price has remained high, because it was expensive to develop.

The Economist

"It was expensive.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But it was expensive.

Yale University

It was expensive, though.

The New York Times

It was expensive, and possibly dangerous.

The New Yorker

It was expensive and time-consuming.

The New Yorker

It was expensive, time-consuming and imprecise.

The Economist

It was expensive, and was not green.

The Economist

And it was expensive to live there.

The New York Times

"It was expensive and painful," he said.

The New York Times

It was expensive: about $11 a pound.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was expensive" when you want to directly state that something had a high cost, but consider more descriptive alternatives if you want to highlight why it was expensive (e.g., "it was labor-intensive", "it required rare materials").

Common error

Avoid simply stating "it was expensive" without providing context or justification. Instead, explain why it was expensive to provide more value to your reader. For example, instead of saying "the repair was expensive", say "the repair was expensive due to the rarity of the parts."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was expensive" functions as a statement of fact or opinion about the high cost of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage. The examples show it used in diverse contexts, from products to experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

23%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was expensive" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something had a high cost. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While the phrase is straightforward, providing additional context about why something was expensive can enhance clarity and provide more value to the reader. Consider using alternative phrases like "it cost a lot" or "it proved costly" for nuanced meanings. Avoid overusing the phrase without providing supporting details. Top authoritative sources that use the expression includes The New York Times, The Economist and The New Yorker.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it cost a lot

Focuses directly on the high monetary cost.

it was quite pricey

Uses a more informal term to describe something expensive.

it proved costly

Highlights the negative financial outcome or consequence.

it carried a high price tag

Emphasizes the actual price or perceived value.

it didn't come cheap

Informal way of saying something was expensive.

it broke the bank

Indicates that something was so expensive that it depleted one's funds.

it was an extravagance

Suggests that something was an unnecessary or luxurious expense.

it represented a significant investment

Highlights the financial commitment as a planned expense.

the expense was considerable

Highlights the size of the expense in a formal way.

it strained the budget

Emphasizes the negative impact on a budget.

FAQs

How can I use "it was expensive" in a sentence?

You can use "it was expensive" to directly state that something cost a lot of money. For example, "The car repair was necessary, but "it was expensive"" or "The ingredients were high quality, so "it was expensive".

What can I say instead of "it was expensive"?

You can use alternatives like "it cost a lot", "it was pricey", or "it proved costly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it is expensive" or "it was expensive"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "it is expensive" describes something that is currently expensive, while "it was expensive" describes something that was expensive in the past.

What is the difference between "it was expensive" and "it was a luxury"?

"It was expensive" simply states that something cost a lot of money. "It was a luxury" implies that the item or service was not a necessity but something enjoyable or indulgent.