moderately costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moderately costly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a moderate level of expense, indicating that it is not too cheap but also not excessively expensive. Example: "The new software is moderately costly, but it offers features that can significantly improve our productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

However, certain features of an innovation process and market lead to wider welfare improvement windows, such as stronger spillovers and moderately costly R&D.

Research Policy

Although effective, these calls were moderately costly in terms of manpower and telephone charges, we did judge them to be cost-effective.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

However, the size of the PRN gene renders full gene sequencing a time consuming and moderately costly exercise for allelic typing.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

WINE LIST -- A leather-bound list of labels, moderately priced, with usually costly, inaccessible Bordeaux quite affordable here.

The New York Times

Since the tanks' rotating turrets had to absorb the recoil of their guns, these were usually smaller in calibre than ordinary field cannon, so that, employed as artillery, tanks were costly and only moderately effective.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although Massachusetts' healthcare law was written by the Romney administration to get moderately ill people out of costly hospital emergency rooms (what Romney refers to as the "free-rider problem") and into less expensive doctors' offices, the report finds that difficulty accessing care is sending some people back to the emergency room.

Huffington Post

Pre- or postoperative routine urine evaluation of asymptomatic arthroplasty patients is costly and only moderately predicts the pathogen of a potential urinary tract infection.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Italy provides appealing alternatives, including Franciacorta (Ca' del Bosco is superb but costly) and prosecco (Mionetto, moderately priced, is eminently drinkable).

The New York Times - Food

It will cost considerably more to get 200 miles per charge — which of course makes it an awfully costly car even for the moderately wealthy.

The New York Times

However, at the same time, it was emphasised that some projects were moderately under-resourced, and, as a result, the most costly ones had the greatest impact.

European Journal of Futures Research

Low back pain is a common and costly health complaint for which there are several moderately effective treatments.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the cost of something, consider your audience. Using "moderately costly" can be a balanced way to communicate expense without deterring interest, especially when value or benefits are also highlighted.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately costly" when something is truly inexpensive. Ensure the cost aligns with the 'moderate' qualifier to maintain credibility and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately costly" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe its price or expense level. It indicates that something is more expensive than average, but not prohibitively so. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "moderately costly" is a grammatically sound and usable expression used to describe something that is more expensive than average, but not prohibitively so. Ludwig confirms that it has a neutral to professional register, appearing primarily in scientific and news contexts. Alternatives include "somewhat expensive" and "reasonably priced", depending on the nuance desired. When using the term, ensure it accurately reflects the cost and avoid overstating the expense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Moderately priced

Direct synonym, focusing on the price point rather than the cost burden.

Somewhat expensive

Replaces 'moderately' with 'somewhat', softening the cost indication slightly.

Mildly expensive

Emphasizes that the cost is on the lower end of the expensive spectrum.

Fairly expensive

Similar to 'somewhat expensive', but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the cost.

Slightly pricey

Informal way to express that something is moderately costly, using 'pricey'.

Reasonably priced

Focuses more on the value aspect, suggesting the cost is justified.

Not too expensive

Uses a negative construction to indicate a limited degree of expensiveness.

Not excessively priced

Highlights that the price does not exceed a certain acceptable level.

Affordable to some extent

Highlights the accessibility of the cost, implying it might not be universally affordable.

Within a reasonable budget

Focuses on fitting within a pre-defined budget, implying cost-effectiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "moderately costly" in a sentence?

You can use "moderately costly" to describe something that is not cheap but also not extremely expensive. For example, "The repair was "moderately costly", but it saved us from having to replace the entire unit."

What's a good alternative to "moderately costly"?

Alternatives include "somewhat expensive", "reasonably priced", or "fairly expensive". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "moderately costly" the same as "expensive"?

No, "moderately costly" implies a cost that is neither low nor extremely high. "Expensive" is a more general term that can describe a wider range of higher costs. The term "moderately costly" is more precise.

When is it appropriate to use "moderately costly" instead of "expensive"?

Use "moderately costly" when you want to be specific about the cost being in a middle range. If something is very expensive, then "expensive" would be more appropriate, but if it's only somewhat above average, "moderately costly" is a better descriptor.