much more costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much more costly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to compare two items in terms of cost, for example: "This car is much more costly than the one I had before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But outright deflation would be much more costly than that.

The Economist

Fuel cell vehicles, much more costly, receive higher credits.

The New York Times

And where they are available, they are much more costly than policies with defined maximum payouts.

The New York Times

Like the old phone company, this fulfills a vital need, but it is much more costly.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sunday night's defeat may be much more costly for the United States than a simple defeat.

The New York Times - Sports

Leaving Tunisia to languish without help would prove much more costly for us all.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some conditions will be much more costly for the NHS to treat than others.

The Guardian

"The interesting thing about it is the errors the defendants make are much more costly".

The New York Times

Until we associate women with leadership roles, mistakes will remain much more costly for women.

Harvard Business Review

Now, he can still find black market dealers, he said, but it is much more costly.

The New York Times

"That is clearly much more costly than a solo singer on stage with a piano.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing options, use "much more costly" to clearly emphasize a significant price difference. This phrase is suitable for various contexts, including business reports, academic papers, and news articles.

Common error

While generally acceptable, constantly using "much more costly" in informal settings may sound overly formal. Consider alternatives like "way more expensive" or "a lot pricier" for a more casual tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much more costly" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that its associated cost is significantly higher than something else. Ludwig's examples show it used across diverse subjects from fuel to health to general finance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "much more costly" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a significant price difference. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It functions as a comparative adjective phrase, primarily used to emphasize a substantial price gap, with frequency of expression across several categories. Though versatile, remember to adjust the register when writing something less formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

markedly more costly

Focuses on the distinctness of the cost difference.

significantly more expensive

Emphasizes the substantial difference in price.

substantially higher in cost

Highlights a marked increase in expenses.

materially more costly

Points out that the financial burden is considerably and concretely greater.

considerably more pricey

A more informal way to indicate a notable price difference.

appreciably more valuable

Highlights a considerable degree of cost differential.

a good deal more costly

An idiomatic expression indicating a significant cost increase.

noticeably more dear

Uses "dear" as a somewhat antiquated but understandable synonym for expensive.

far more extravagant

Implies a luxurious and unnecessary level of expense.

prohibitively expensive

Indicates the cost is so high as to prevent purchase or use.

FAQs

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

You can use "much more costly" to compare the prices of two items or services, for instance: "Opting for organic produce is "much more costly" than buying conventionally grown items".

What's a more informal way to say "much more costly"?

If you're aiming for a less formal tone, consider using phrases like "way more expensive", "a lot pricier", or "considerably more pricey", depending on the context.

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

"Much more costly" emphasizes a significant difference in price, whereas "more expensive" is a more general comparison. Use "much more costly" when you want to highlight that the difference is substantial.

Are there any synonyms for "much more costly" that maintain a formal tone?

Yes, alternatives like "significantly more expensive", "substantially higher in cost", or "markedly more costly" can be used in formal contexts to convey a similar meaning.