met the cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "met the cost" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "meet the cost," which is used to indicate covering or fulfilling an expense. Example: "The company was able to meet the cost of the new project without any issues."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Government programmes such as Medicaid met the cost of treatment for some people.

The Guardian - Business

The family belonged to one of several thousand private insurance schemes that only partially met the cost of sickness.

The Guardian - Film

Ms Udwin said the programme she wants could cost as little as $6m if individual countries met the cost of materials.

Independent

However, the system cost goal of $100 kWh−1 for electric vehicles was not met; the cost of a 40 kWh lithium-air battery system using a bipolar plate design was estimated at $238 kWh−1.

Journal of Power Sources

Bridges said the government would instead support an amendment that would allow the "check-off" system, whereby members have their subscription deducted from their salaries, to continue where there was agreement with the employer and the union met the cost.

The Guardian

The BBC, which had previously not revealed the payment to the NAO, told the watchdog it "agreed to make the payment [because] it considered it was obliged to meet the cost of the individual had chosen to leave, but now considers that it should not have met the cost because her post was made redundant".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Or should state benefits meet the cost?

The Guardian - Money

Austerity doesn't.Particularly when England meets the cost.

The Economist

Someone will have to meet the cost of the transcripts.

The Guardian

Again, Brighton council agreed to meet the cost, again controversially.

The Guardian

"The bigger companies can buy the equipment to meet the cost requirements of the primes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance readability, use active voice, such as "The company will meet the cost", instead of passive constructions.

Common error

Avoid using the past tense form "met" when the correct verb is "meet". "Meet" implies the ability to cover expenses, while "met" refers to an encounter. For example, use "The budget will meet the cost", not "The budget met the cost".

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a verb phrase, aiming to express the capability or action of fulfilling or covering a financial obligation or expense. Although, as Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically incorrect, the user usually aims to express something which is grammatically correct when using the correct phrase "meet the cost".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "met the cost" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""meet the cost"", which indicates the ability to cover expenses. As Ludwig AI indicates, while the intention is clear, using the past tense "met" is not standard English. A variety of alternatives exist, such as "covered the cost" or "paid for the expense", which convey similar meanings with proper grammar. Despite the grammatical issue, the phrase appears across various contexts, including news, scientific publications, and academic writing. To ensure clear and effective communication, always use the grammatically correct form ""meet the cost"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covered the cost

Replaces "met" with "covered", emphasizing the act of providing sufficient funds.

paid for the expense

Focuses on the action of paying and the specific item of expense.

bore the expense

Emphasizes the responsibility of carrying the financial burden.

shouldered the cost

Implies taking on the cost as a burden or responsibility.

financed the expenditure

A more formal way of saying provided the funds for something.

defrayed the charges

A formal term meaning to provide money to pay for expenses.

absorbed the cost

Suggests that the cost was integrated into a budget, without external impact.

settled the bill

Focuses on the finalization of payment for the cost.

liquidated the expenses

Implies converting assets into cash to cover the costs.

cleared the debt

Highlights the act of completely paying off a financial obligation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "meet the cost" in a sentence?

Use "meet the cost" to indicate that resources are sufficient to cover expenses. For example, "The grant will help us "meet the cost" of the project".

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

Since "met the cost" is grammatically incorrect, use alternatives like "covered the cost", "paid for the expense", or "bore the expense" depending on the context.

Is "met the cost" grammatically correct?

No, "met the cost" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is ""meet the cost"", using the base form of the verb.

What's the difference between "meet the cost" and "met the cost"?

"Meet the cost" (present tense) means to have enough resources to cover an expense, while "met the cost" (past tense - incorrect) would imply an action that doesn't align with standard English usage. Use alternatives such as covered the cost instead of the past tense.