more costly

USAGE SUMMARY

'more costly' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that costs more than another item or when something requires great monetary expenditure. Example sentence: The renovations to the old building were more costly than expected.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Will this be more costly?

The New York Times

The seniority protections proved even more costly.

The New Yorker

The alternative could be far more costly.

The New York Times

ALUMINIUM was once more costly than gold.

The Economist

What's "fair" may prove more costly.

The New York Times

Education is even more costly.

The New York Times

If we wait, they'll become more costly.

The New York Times

The House has more costly buyout plans.

The New York Times

Still, HPV infections are far more costly.

The New York Times

Her preparations were more costly than expected.

The New York Times

The second was even more costly.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing long-term implications, consider alternatives like "more detrimental" if the impact extends beyond mere monetary expense.

Common error

Avoid using "more costly" when the primary concern is not financial. For impacts related to time, effort, or other non-monetary factors, consider phrases like "more time-consuming" or "more complex".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more costly" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that something has a higher cost compared to something else. Ludwig examples show its frequent use in discussing expenses, resources, and financial burdens.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more costly" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is more expensive or resource-intensive compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It is widely used across various domains, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, reflecting its broad applicability. When using "more costly", ensure that the context clearly indicates whether the cost refers to monetary expense, resource consumption, or other burdens. Alternatives such as ""more expensive"" or "more detrimental" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more expensive

Focuses specifically on monetary cost.

more high-priced

Highlights the elevated price level.

more detrimental

Shifts the focus from price to negative consequences or harm.

more resource-intensive

Emphasizes the greater consumption of resources.

more burdensome

Highlights the increased weight or difficulty imposed.

more uneconomical

Implies that the action or item is not financially sound.

carries a higher price tag

An idiomatic way of saying something is more expensive

incurs greater expense

Formal way to express that something leads to higher costs.

less cost-effective

Highlights that something is not effective for its cost.

less economical

Focuses on the lack of economic benefits.

FAQs

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

You can use "more costly" to compare the expenses of two options, such as "Organic produce is often "more expensive" than conventionally grown produce, making it "more costly" for some families".

What are some alternatives to saying "more costly"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""more expensive"", "more detrimental", or "more resource-intensive".

Which is correct, "more costly" or "costlier"?

Both "more costly" and "costlier" are correct, but "more costly" is generally preferred in formal writing, while "costlier" might be used in more informal contexts. Using "more costly" tends to provide better clarity.

What is the difference between "more costly" and ""more expensive""?

While often interchangeable, "more costly" can refer to expenses beyond just money, encompassing resources, time, or effort, whereas ""more expensive"" typically refers specifically to monetary expenses.