largely unaffordable

USAGE SUMMARY

'largely unaffordable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is too expensive to purchase or obtain, e.g. "Housing costs in the city are largely unaffordable for the average person."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

As cities especially large, gay-friendly ones become largely unaffordable to working- and middle-class people, untangling how LGBTQ people fit into the gentrification puzzle is necessary to ensure that they, and everyone else, can continue to afford to live in them.

Vice

Unlike the previous two generations, a large proportion of our population is facing life in unstable, often unfit and largely unaffordable housing with no prospect of either transitioning to secure social rent or stepping into home ownership in sight.

The Guardian

Over the next decade or so, the best-known bastion of middle-class housing in Manhattan could become largely unaffordable to the middle class.

The New York Times

And if it crumbles, there doesn't seem to be a viable alternate proposal on the table for individuals and families facing the largely unaffordable costs of long-term care.

The New York Times

The current structure of the health care system in Chad, which is characterized by a weak public health system and a nascent and largely unaffordable private sector, raises questions about how low-income households manage illnesses.

Social Science & Medicine

He said early analysis had confirmed fears many London boroughs would become "largely unaffordable" for people on housing benefit from 2011, and a "significant further amount" would do so by 2016.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Health care is distant and mostly unaffordable.

The Economist

And Smith isn't wrong when she observes that it is largely a completely unaffordable place for an artist like herself to even try to inhabit in today's "market".

The Guardian - Books

In middle-income countries (MICS), treatment is largely unavailable and unaffordable for most PWID.

International Journal of Drug Policy

Nearly all rich kids but scarcely a quarter of poor ones brush their teeth, largely because toothpaste is an unaffordable luxury.

The Economist

It's increasingly likely that Obama will make a "grand bargain" with conservatives to undermine Social Security and Medicare in the name of dealing with the deficit caused largely by the Great Recession, unaffordable tax cuts, and two wars.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "largely unaffordable", consider the audience and context. It's suitable for formal and informal settings when describing something that is generally too expensive for a significant portion of the population.

Common error

Avoid using "largely unaffordable" when describing items that are merely expensive but still within reach for many. Reserve it for situations where the cost genuinely poses a significant barrier to access for most people.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely unaffordable" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that is, for the most part, beyond the financial reach of many people, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "largely unaffordable" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, to describe something that is mostly out of financial reach for a significant portion of the population. It functions as an adjective phrase, commonly used in news and media, science, and formal business contexts to highlight economic inaccessibility. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context and accurately reflects the cost barrier for most people. Alternatives like "prohibitively expensive" or "beyond one's means" can be used to add nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly unaffordable

Focuses on the primary state of being unaffordable, with a slight nuance.

prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes the extreme cost making it impossible to afford.

out of reach financially

Highlights the financial inaccessibility of something.

beyond one's means

Indicates that something exceeds someone's financial capacity.

financially inaccessible

Directly states the lack of financial access.

excessively costly

Emphasizes the high cost as the primary issue.

unreasonably priced

Focuses on the perceived unfairness of the price.

economically unattainable

Highlights the impossibility of achieving it due to economic factors.

unbearably expensive

Suggests the cost is so high it causes hardship.

virtually impossible to afford

Emphasizes the near impossibility of affording something.

FAQs

How can I use "largely unaffordable" in a sentence?

You can use "largely unaffordable" to describe goods, services, or housing that are too expensive for a majority of people. For example, "Healthcare in some countries is "largely unaffordable" for low-income families".

What are some alternatives to "largely unaffordable"?

Alternatives include "prohibitively expensive", "out of reach financially", or "beyond one's means", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "largely unaffordable" in formal writing?

Yes, "largely unaffordable" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to describe something that is generally not affordable for many people.

What's the difference between "unaffordable" and "largely unaffordable"?

"Unaffordable" means something is completely out of reach financially. "Largely unaffordable" suggests that while some people may be able to afford it, it is beyond the reach of most.