no cost

USAGE SUMMARY

"no cost" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that does not require money. For example, "The company is offering a one-month trial with no cost to the customer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

But "no cost" doesn't mean "no risk".

Huffington Post

No cost.

Cornell University

Usually at no cost.

The New York Times

There's no cost.

The New York Times

No cost to attend.

Harvard University

At no cost.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

No cost-of-living adjustment COLAA) for 2016..

Huffington Post

Low- or no-cost leasing privileges.

Cornell University

The no-cost online course begins February 15 , 2019

Stanford University

Low-cost or no-cost transfers.

TechCrunch

It promises us no-cost free lunch.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "no cost", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being offered without charge. For example, specify "no cost shipping" or "no cost consultation".

Common error

Avoid implying that "no cost" means "no effort" or "no risk". While there may be no monetary charge, there could still be time commitments, data collection, or other factors involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no cost" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is provided without any monetary charge. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies nouns like "refinancing", "transfers", or general situations where services are free.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "no cost" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote the absence of monetary charges. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various sectors, especially in news, academic, and business contexts. While it effectively conveys the absence of direct payment, remember to consider any indirect costs or implied obligations associated with the offer. Consider using alternatives like "free of charge" or "complimentary" to add variety to your writing and ensure clarity in different situations. When you say that a certain event, product, or services has "no cost", you mean to say to your readers, listeners, or audience that it's provided without any monetary obligations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

free of charge

Emphasizes the absence of any payment or fee.

without charge

Highlights that no payment is required.

at no charge

Similar to 'without charge', stressing the lack of fees.

cost-free

A compound adjective indicating the absence of cost.

at no expense

Focuses on the absence of financial burden.

without payment

Highlights the absence of any financial transaction.

complimentary

Indicates that something is given as a courtesy or gift.

free

A shorter, more general term for not costing money.

for free

Indicates something is obtained or available without payment.

gratis

A more formal or technical term for free.

FAQs

How can I use "no cost" in a sentence?

You can use "no cost" to describe something that is provided without charge. For example, "The workshop is available at "no cost" to participants".

What are some alternatives to saying "no cost"?

Alternatives include "free of charge", "without charge", or "complimentary", depending on the specific context.

Is it always accurate to describe something as "no cost"?

While "no cost" implies no direct monetary expense, consider if there are indirect costs, such as time, effort, or data sharing. If so, it may be more accurate to provide additional details.

What's the difference between "no cost" and "free"?

While similar, "no cost" often emphasizes the absence of a specific fee, whereas "free" is a more general term. For example, a product might be described as "no cost" during a promotional period, while a basic version might be generally "free".