key costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "key costs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing important or significant expenses in a financial context or analysis. Example: "In our budget review, we need to identify the key costs that impact our overall profitability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

That is considerably lower than private-sector ones, and as David Cameron, the Tory leader, pointed out in the budget debate, lower than the rate at which the key costs for middle-income households are rising.

The Economist

The physical key costs $19.99 while a dual-key BFF pack costs $29.99.

TechCrunch

A 1TB desktop versions cost $129 while the plus – including the little USB key – costs $20 more.

TechCrunch

In this paper, we provide a framework for assessing the net value of the benefits provided by ecosystem services (i.e., the benefit that remains after subtracting key costs), taking the Beijing Plains afforestation project as an example.

Ecological Engineering

Some of the key costs have gone up and they haven't been matched by earnings".

Vice

PwC, for example, has built a significant practice advising on strategy when stable access to natural resources become key costs of doing business.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The most obvious is that interest rates are low, meaning a key cost, borrowed money, can be obtained cheaply.

The Economist

Raw material and capital charge were key cost factors.

Journal of Cereal Science

Costs are allocated to cases according to the key cost drivers for cost modules shown in the cost-matrix.

Health Economics Review

Keep in mind that volume is the key cost factor in this industry.

Forbes

Key cost streams in its construction were excavation, bush clearing, fencing, and labour (Table 4).

Environmental Systems Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When analyzing financial statements, clearly identify and categorize the "key costs" to provide a focused and actionable overview of the most impactful expenses. This will help stakeholders to prioritize and direct their attention to the most important elements.

Common error

Avoid listing all expenses as "key costs". Reserve this term for the expenses that have the most significant impact on profitability or project success. Listing every small cost will dilute the focus and make it harder to identify true priorities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key costs" functions as a noun phrase that identifies and labels the most important or significant expenses within a particular context. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "key costs" is a grammatically sound and usable noun phrase that refers to the most important expenses in a specific context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's deemed correct. It's commonly used in science, news, and business settings. To improve your writing, ensure you use "key costs" only for those expenses that significantly impact your overall outcome, avoiding the dilution of focus by including minor expenses. Some related phrases include "major expenses" and "significant costs". By doing so, you will ensure that your message stays focused and relevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant costs

This alternative uses "significant" to emphasize the importance of the costs.

crucial expenses

This alternative replaces "key" with "crucial", indicating a critical nature.

major expenses

This alternative uses simpler terms, focusing on the significance of the costs.

essential expenditures

This alternative emphasizes the necessity of these costs.

primary expenditures

This alternative replaces "costs" with "expenditures" and "key" with "primary", maintaining a formal tone.

leading expenses

This alternative highlights the prominent nature of the expenses.

vital costs

This option underscores the indispensability of the costs.

principal outlays

This alternative is more formal, using "outlays" instead of "costs".

main cost drivers

This alternative focuses on the factors that significantly influence costs.

critical cost elements

This option highlights the elemental importance of the costs.

FAQs

How can I use "key costs" in a sentence?

You can use "key costs" to refer to the most important or significant expenses in a particular context. For example: "The analysis identified labor and materials as the "key costs" affecting our profit margins."

What are some alternatives to saying "key costs"?

You can use alternatives like "major expenses", "principal outlays", or "significant costs" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "key costs" and "operating costs"?

"Key costs" refers to the most important or influential expenses, while "operating costs" refers to the expenses associated with day-to-day business operations. "Key costs" might include operating costs, but focuses on those with the biggest impact.

How do you identify the "key costs" in a project budget?

To identify "key costs", analyze the budget to determine which expenses have the greatest impact on the total cost and project profitability. These are often related to labor, materials, or equipment.