less the cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less the cost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a total amount that is being reduced by a specific cost or expense. Example: "The total revenue was $10,000, less the cost of production, which was $3,000."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The salaries are lower, the overhead costs less, the real estate costs less, the cost of living is less.

TechCrunch

"The value of the houses was zero, less the cost of demolition.

The New York Times

This deposit is refundable at the end of the semester less the cost of any damage or cleaning charges.

Cornell University

The total cost for a guide is the same whether there's one person or 20; the more people, the less the cost for each.

The New York Times - Travel

The parent Plus program, however, allows their parents or step-parents to borrow the full tuition cost, less the cost of any aid that the student has received.

The Guardian - Money

www.vjv.com French Riviera for less The cost of a trip to the Côte D'Azur doesn't have to give you the blues.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

(b) The current market value of the property as determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs, less the costs and expenses of liquidation.

Cornell University

The more the increase of these transactions the less the costs and ecology protection.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Families lost income and could not provide basics for their families, even less the costs of sending children to school.

Unicef

As the convenience becomes less and less important, the cost of it should decline.

Forbes

The adjusted capitalized cost equals the gross capitalized cost less the capitalized cost reduction, and is the amount used by the lessor in calculating the base periodic payment.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less the cost", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being reduced. For example, "The profit, less the cost of materials, was $5000."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what amount the cost is being subtracted from. Do not assume the reader will automatically understand the base amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less the cost" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase used to indicate a subtraction or deduction. As shown by Ludwig, it modifies a noun phrase by specifying that a certain cost is to be removed from a preceding amount or value.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

33%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less the cost" is a prepositional phrase indicating subtraction of expenses, frequently used in financial and evaluative contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalent usage across varied sources, including news, academia, and science. Its neutral to professional register suits contexts requiring accuracy. For alternatives, consider "minus the expense" or "subtracting the price" for semantic similarity. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying the scope of deduction to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minus the expense

Replaces "cost" with "expense", offering a direct synonym.

subtracting the price

Substitutes "less" with "subtracting" and "cost" with "price".

after deducting the cost

Adds a temporal element, specifying that the cost is deducted beforehand.

net of expenses

Uses the term "net" to indicate the result after subtracting expenses.

excluding the outlay

Replaces "cost" with "outlay", referring to the expenditure.

deducting the expenditure

Uses the verb "deducting" instead of "less" and "expenditure" as a synonym for "cost".

after removal of costs

Specifies the removal of costs, emphasizing the action.

with the cost taken out

Informal phrasing indicating the cost is subtracted.

once the cost is subtracted

Emphasizes the subtraction action using a temporal phrase.

excluding the financial burden

Replaces "cost" with a more descriptive term, "financial burden".

FAQs

How can I use "less the cost" in a sentence?

Use "less the cost" to indicate a subtraction of expenses from a total amount, such as "The revenue, less the cost of goods sold, equals the gross profit".

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

You can use alternatives like "minus the expense", "subtracting the price", or "net of expenses" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "less of the cost"?

While "less the cost" is a valid construction, "less of the cost" is grammatically awkward and less common. Stick to "less the cost" for clarity.

What's the difference between "less the cost" and "net cost"?

"Less the cost" describes the action of subtracting expenses from revenue or another amount. "Net cost" refers to the resulting figure after the deduction has been made.