negligible expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negligible expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a cost that is so small that it is not worth considering or worrying about. Example: "The additional materials required for the project will result in a negligible expense that won't impact our budget significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This was a negligible expense; it was paid for, after all, using other people's credit cards.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr Gates realised that falling hardware costs, combined with the negligible expense of making extra copies of standard software, would turn the computer business on its head.

The Economist

I'd imagined that for the super rich, property was a negligible expense like the gum or discounted chocolate bars that you chuck on to the conveyer belt while in line at the supermarket – yeah, thinks Kylie Jenner, Mom won't notice a $6m six-bedroom house in the Hidden Hills.

The Guardian

"Not necessarily about important things — things like MTV shows like 'Date My Mom.' " The negligible expense of the show (which Mr. McHale said was initially budgeted at about $30,000 an episode) also meant that he and his "Soup" colleagues faced little creative interference from E! executives.

The New York Times - Arts

And that's one of the advantages of using cryptocurrency, which can be transferred at zero or negligible expense.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Within the COSMOtherm program these analytic derivatives are available at negligible additional expense.

COSMO-RS From Quantum Chemistry to Fluid Phase Thermodynamics and Drug Design

It has channelled more than US$215bn in technology, knowledge, and finance to developing countries, virtually all from private sources at negligible taxpayer expense.

The Guardian

These provide increased accuracy at negligible additional computational expense.

Journal of Cheminformatics

But keeping petty thieves in cells until they die of old age yields negligible benefits at ruinous expense.

The Economist

The expense was negligible compared to a party, the planning took about half an hour, the children had a blast, and Mom and Dad were happy and relaxed.

The New York Times

In exchange, the opex is slightly increased but this additional expense remains negligible with respect to the current battery replacement cost.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "negligible expense", ensure the context clearly establishes what the expense is being compared to. For example, 'The cost of the software upgrade was a negligible expense compared to the potential revenue increase.'

Common error

Avoid using "negligible expense" when the cost, while small, still requires careful consideration or budget allocation. Ensure the expense truly has a minimal impact before using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negligible expense" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'negligible' modifies the noun 'expense'. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase indicates a cost is so small that it's not worth considering.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "negligible expense" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a cost considered insignificant. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, showcasing its application across diverse sectors such as news, science, and business. While not extremely frequent, its usage is appropriate in both neutral and professional contexts. Alternatives like "minimal cost" and "insignificant cost" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the benchmark against which the expense is deemed negligible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal cost

Focuses on the cost being very small, almost insignificant.

insignificant cost

Highlights that the cost is so small it's not worth considering.

trifling expense

Emphasizes the unimportance of the expense.

minor expenditure

Replaces "expense" with a synonym, keeping the meaning similar.

nominal fee

Suggests a very small, symbolic payment.

inconsequential outlay

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey the smallness of the expense.

paltry sum

Emphasizes the small amount of money involved.

small price

Highlights the low cost in a general sense.

modest charge

Implies the expense is reasonable and not excessive.

slight cost

Directly describes the cost as being small.

FAQs

How can I use "negligible expense" in a sentence?

You can use "negligible expense" to describe a cost that is so small it's not worth worrying about. For example: "The cost of the extra materials was a "negligible expense"."

What can I say instead of "negligible expense"?

Alternatives to "negligible expense" include "minimal cost", "insignificant cost", or "minor expenditure".

Is it appropriate to use "negligible expense" in formal writing?

Yes, "negligible expense" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider the audience and context. In highly technical or financial documents, providing specific numbers might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "negligible expense" and "low cost"?

"Low cost" is a general term indicating that something is inexpensive. "Negligible expense" implies that the cost is so small that it's practically insignificant and has a minimal impact on the overall budget or finances.