needless expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needless expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a cost that is unnecessary or avoidable in a given context. Example: "The company decided to cut down on needless expenses to improve its financial health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"So, it was just a needless expense, a needless effort at this point".

The New York Times

Baseless filing puts the machinery of justice in motion, burdening courts and individuals alike with needless expense and delay.

Cornell University

The DST, its evaluators concluded, is a needless expense that gives a false sense of diagnostic precision.

The New York Times

Until recently, for instance, he took only cold showers because he viewed warm water as a needless expense.

The New York Times

This paper shows how to perform an improved assessment allowing for changes in dynamic behaviour with location and plane orientation, which may prevent needless expense in bridge rehabilitation.

Engineering Structures

And they say that the rice policy has developed into needless expense at a time that Japan is trying to reduce its huge national debt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Pyne said the report estimated that consumers were saved $7.5bn in "needless expenses" that would have been avoided if the ABCC were in place.

The Guardian

Avoid the problem before it begins: don't charge needless expenses to your credit card.

Forbes

Dimon, who became chief executive of JPMorgan at the beginning of the year, has spent much of his time since the July 2003 merger with his former company, Bank One, retooling the investment bank and cutting needless expenses.

Forbes

She cut spending on needless expenses, but she did keep a housekeeper, because the time she'd spend cooking and catering was worth more than what she was spending on keeping her home clean.

Forbes

They explain why cheap insurance isn't always the answer and give customers plenty of insightful information on how they lower prices the right way--by eliminating needless expenses through their online-only approach.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial matters, use "needless expense" to clearly convey that a cost is avoidable or unnecessary. This helps in making a stronger argument for cost-cutting or budget revision.

Common error

Avoid using "needless expense" when you simply mean being frugal. "Needless expense" implies the expense should not have occurred at all, whereas frugality is about minimizing necessary expenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needless expense" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "needless" modifies the noun "expense". According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It serves to describe a cost or expenditure that is unnecessary or avoidable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needless expense" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe unnecessary or avoidable costs. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across varied contexts such as news, science, and business. When using this phrase, be mindful of its critical undertone, which suggests inefficiency or wastefulness. For more formal situations, consider alternatives such as "superfluous expenditure" or "unwarranted cost". Understanding its implications and appropriate usage will enhance clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary cost

Replaces the adjective "needless" with "unnecessary", offering a direct synonym.

unwarranted cost

Indicates the expense lacks justification or reason.

avoidable expenditure

Substitutes both "needless" and "expense" with synonyms that emphasize the possibility of prevention.

unjustified spending

Highlights that the expense is not supported by valid reasons.

wasteful spending

Highlights the unproductive nature of the expense, suggesting resources are being squandered.

superfluous expenditure

Emphasizes that the expense is beyond what is required or necessary.

gratuitous outlay

Uses more formal vocabulary for both the adjective and noun, indicating an unwarranted expense.

redundant expense

Suggests the expense is a duplicate or repetition of something already covered.

nonessential expenditure

Points out that the spending is not crucial or vital.

excessive charge

Focuses on the amount being too high or unreasonable.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "needless expense" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "superfluous expenditure", "gratuitous outlay", or "unwarranted cost".

What's a simple way to explain "needless expense"?

A simple explanation of "needless expense" is "unnecessary cost" or "avoidable expenditure". These phrases clearly indicate that the expense was not required.

Is there a difference between "needless expense" and "wasteful spending"?

While similar, "needless expense" emphasizes that the expense was not required from the outset. "Wasteful spending" focuses more on the inefficient use of resources, even if the initial expense might have been justifiable.

How do I use "needless expense" in a sentence?

You can use "needless expense" to describe situations where money is spent on something that is not required. For example: "The audit revealed several instances of "needless expense" within the department."