lead the cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lead the cost" is not correct in standard English usage.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of a common phrase, possibly intended to mean "bear the cost" or "cover the cost." Example: "We need to decide who will lead the cost of the project before moving forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Program-to-people ratios, awareness-to-demand ratios, the cost vs lead, the cost vs sale, and conversation rates are the typical data collected and analyzed.

Wikipedia

(Consultant, VTE lead) The cost comes out of orthopaedic surgeons direct budget and the guidelines have come in and the recommendations are made to them but they are not given any additional funds to deliver it.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This had led the cost of Bitcoin on Mt.Gox to fall dramatically.

TechCrunch

Because the cargo preference cuts the United States off from being able to accept more competitive bids from foreign shipping groups, critics say, the policy leads the costs of shipping food aid to spike.

Vice

* Verizon Wireless continued to lead the industry in cost efficiency.

TechCrunch

However, this may lead to the cost of tagging being forced upon manufacturers instead, many of whom may be reluctant to absorb such costs (Chainlink 2014).

Crime Science

This leads the annual cost per client in Matero ($104) to be about double that in Chawama ($53).

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

HF & DD assisted in model development and led the normative costing exercise.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

That's not good economics if it leads to the cost of MRSA".

The Guardian - Film

"This process has led to the cost savings being identified in relation to the project management costs in the bids," a DCMS spokesman told the BBC.

BBC

But Dame Deirdre Hine, a former chief medical officer for Wales who led the review, defended the cost.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to who is responsible for payment, use phrases like "cover the cost" or "bear the expense" rather than "lead the cost".

Common error

Avoid using "lead the cost" as it's not a standard English expression; instead, clarify whether you mean to 'cover', 'bear', or 'manage' the expenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead the cost" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While the word "lead" can function as a verb, meaning to guide or direct, it doesn't typically collocate with "the cost" in established usage. Ludwig AI confirms this by flagging the phrase as non-standard.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lead the cost" is considered grammatically incorrect and non-standard in English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While its intended meaning is often related to managing or covering expenses, it's advisable to use established alternatives like "cover the cost", "bear the expense", or "manage the budget" to ensure clarity. These alternatives are more precise and less likely to cause confusion. Although the phrase appears across different source types, it remains infrequent and non-recommended for formal or professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cover the cost

Focuses on who will pay for something.

bear the expense

Highlights enduring the financial burden.

shoulder the cost

Emphasizes taking responsibility for the financial burden.

finance the cost

Refers to providing the funds needed.

manage the budget

Focuses on controlling and allocating funds.

control the expenses

Highlights keeping spending in check.

oversee the finances

Focuses on supervising the financial aspects.

dictate the budget

Suggests having the power to decide on financial matters.

influence spending

Emphasizes having an effect on how money is spent.

determine the expenditure

Focuses on deciding what money will be spent on.

FAQs

What does "lead the cost" mean?

The phrase "lead the cost" is not a standard English expression. It's likely a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of similar phrases like "cover the cost" or "bear the expense".

What can I say instead of "lead the cost"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "cover the cost", "bear the expense", "manage the budget", or "finance the cost".

Is "lead the cost" grammatically correct?

No, "lead the cost" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's not a recognized idiom or phrase.

Which is correct, "lead the cost" or "cover the cost"?

Cover the cost is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Lead the cost" is not standard English.