moderately expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

'moderately expensive' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is not excessively expensive but is more than a budget item. For example, "The restaurant's menu items were reasonably priced, but the wine list was moderately expensive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

THE BILL Moderately expensive.

The New York Times

Even on moderately expensive speakers, the difference is barely perceptible.

Independent

All along the Strada I found prices to be moderately expensive but still representing good value.

The New York Times - Travel

IT'S a challenge for restaurants to offer exciting lists of expensive or even moderately expensive wines.

The New York Times - Food

It had spent heavily last summer, but, as ever, on moderately expensive players.

The New York Times - Sports

The location was a moderately expensive seafood restaurant in Sarasota, Fla., with linen tablecloths and large windows overlooking the bay.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

That offer included a 7.5percentt pay hike over the course of the contract -- a one percent bump over what was previously offered -- along with 401k and pension contributions, and health coverage that was only moderately more expensive than the current plan, according to Verizon, which owns AOL, The Huffington Post's parent company.

HuffPost

STONY BROOK, a culturally and historically endowed residential hamlet of moderately priced to expensive houses in Suffolk County's town of Brookhaven, owes much to Ward Melville, the visionary philanthropist who strove in 1940 to reconstruct the village with a blend of housing, business and culture in a New England-like setting.

The New York Times

The tuition inflation was most pronounced among expensive, moderately selective private colleges part of Dr. Warren's constituency.

Forbes

NOT quite fitting the Long Island profile of a village, a town or a city, Rockville Centre combines elements of all three in a self-contained setting on the South Shore of Nassau County where expensive to moderately priced single family homes combine with a large number of cooperative apartments.

The New York Times

By The Numbers Vacations or day trips to snowy areas can range from moderately priced to quite expensive.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "moderately expensive" when you want to indicate that something is more costly than average but not prohibitively so. It suggests a balance between quality and affordability.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately" excessively in your writing. While "moderately expensive" is acceptable, overuse of "moderately" with other adjectives can make your writing sound hesitant or lacking confidence. Consider using stronger or more specific descriptors instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately expensive" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the cost or price of something, indicating that it is neither cheap nor overly costly, but falls within a range above the average. This usage is supported by the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "moderately expensive" is a common and grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something with an above-average price point, but not exorbitantly high. As Ludwig AI points out, this term is used across various contexts, most frequently in News & Media and Science and is best used to indicate the balance between price and quality. Alternative terms like "somewhat pricey" or "relatively costly" can be used depending on your audience and tone. Be mindful to use this phrase intentionally in writing to indicate something is not overly expensive, but still not cheap. It should be used when being factual and avoiding exaggeration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat pricey

Replaces "expensive" with "pricey", offering a more casual tone.

relatively costly

Substitutes "expensive" with "costly" and "moderately" with "relatively", emphasizing comparison.

fairly high-priced

Uses "high-priced" instead of "expensive" and "fairly" for "moderately", giving a more descriptive feel.

medium-priced

Condenses the phrase into a single hyphenated adjective, simplifying the wording.

averagely expensive

Replaces "moderately" with "averagely", focusing on its proximity to the average price range.

reasonably priced

Offers a more positive connotation by highlighting the fairness of the price, rather than its relative expensiveness. It's almost a reciprocal, by focusing in the price being reasonable in relation to the object under consideration, rather than only in the expense.

not too cheap, not too dear

Uses a rhyming structure for emphasis, indicating a middle ground between cheap and expensive. Shifts the tone in a more informal fashion.

comfortably affordable

Shifts focus to affordability while implying a price point above the strictly budget-friendly options. Almost reciprocal

mid-range in price

Indicates that the item falls into the middle category concerning price, being neither budget nor premium.

genuinely costly

Focuses on high cost with the implication that high cost are legitimate.

FAQs

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

You can use "moderately expensive" to describe items, services, or experiences that are priced higher than average but not extremely high. For instance, "The restaurant was a good choice; the food was excellent and the prices were "moderately expensive"".

What is a good alternative to "moderately expensive"?

Alternatives to "moderately expensive" include "somewhat pricey", "relatively costly", or "fairly high-priced". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "moderately expensive" or "relatively inexpensive"?

The choice between "moderately expensive" and "relatively inexpensive" depends on what you want to emphasize. "Moderately expensive" focuses on the higher cost, while "relatively inexpensive" focuses on the lower cost in comparison to something else. Choose the phrase that best reflects the primary characteristic you wish to highlight.

When is it appropriate to use "moderately expensive" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "moderately expensive" when you need to convey that something's price is above average but not in the highest price bracket. This term is useful when you want to give a sense of the cost without exaggerating it or making it seem unattainable.