obligatory expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obligatory expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a necessary or mandatory cost that must be paid, often in the context of budgeting or financial planning. Example: "Rent is an obligatory expense that every tenant must account for in their monthly budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But I hadn't: like a shoe store, or a restaurant, I was running a business with the obligatory expenses, like a full staff on payroll, a shop to rent, and a million dollars worth of pre-ordered shoes to design, inspect, manufacture and mail out to my customers.

The Guardian - Opinion

In communities where circumcision is the norm families expect to incur the obligatory circumcision expenses negating the importance of cost.

AIDS and Behavior

If you strip away billions in federal stimulus money, as well as obligatory increases in certain expenses like health care, you would see that the Legislature actually shaved spending a bit, he said.

The New York Times

An enlargement of the heterodimerisation surface is specific for Mecopterida and was associated with a reinforcement of the obligatory partnership between ECR and USP, at the expense of homodimerisation.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The new LBP probably allowed the maintenance of a correct folding for the whole LBD, while the new extended surface of dimerisation was associated with a reinforcement of the obligatory partnership between ECR and USP, at the expense of homodimerisation.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

For a total of 10.7 million inhabitants, patients paid in 2008, on top of the obligatory coinsurance, €60 million in reference supplements, corresponding to 10% of total out-of-pocket expenses for reimbursed pharmaceuticals.

European Journal of Health Economics

Condoms obligatory.

The Economist

4) Obligatory Tebow.

The New York Times

There is obligatory scatology.

The New York Times

* The obligatory druid interview.

Independent

"It was obligatory.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budgets or financial planning, use "obligatory expense" to clearly denote costs that are non-negotiable and must be factored in.

Common error

Avoid using "obligatory expense" in casual conversation. Opt for simpler terms like "necessary cost" or "required payment" for better flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obligatory expense" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'obligatory' modifies the noun 'expense'. It defines a category of costs that are essential and unavoidable. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obligatory expense" is a grammatically sound and semantically valid phrase used to denote unavoidable costs, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not highly frequent, it appears across various contexts, including news, media, and scientific publications. It is best suited for professional or formal communication, and can be replaced by alternatives such as "mandatory expenditure" or "required cost" in less formal settings. Remember to use it when emphasizing the essential and non-negotiable nature of specific expenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mandatory expenditure

Replaces "obligatory" with "mandatory" and "expense" with "expenditure", both synonyms that emphasize the compulsory nature of the cost.

required cost

Uses "required" to highlight the necessity of the cost, simplifying the expression.

unavoidable payment

Focuses on the inevitability of the payment, using "unavoidable" to replace "obligatory" and "payment" for "expense".

essential expenditure

Emphasizes the essential nature of the expense, implying it cannot be avoided.

necessary outlay

Uses "necessary" and "outlay" to provide a more formal and slightly less common alternative.

compulsory charge

Highlights the legally or contractually binding nature of the expense.

inescapable financial burden

Emphasizes the negative aspect of the expense as a burden that cannot be escaped.

due payment

Implies that the payment is not only required but also owed.

committed cost

Highlights that the expense is pre-planned and allocated within a budget.

prescribed expenditure

Focuses on the regulated nature of expense, with "prescribed" indicating rules, regulation or policies.

FAQs

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

You can use "obligatory expense" to describe costs that are unavoidable and essential for a business or individual. For instance, "Rent is an "obligatory expense" that must be accounted for in every budget".

What are some alternatives to "obligatory expense"?

Alternatives include "mandatory expenditure", "required cost", or "essential expenditure". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "obligatory expense" formal or informal?

"Obligatory expense" leans towards a more formal tone due to the word "obligatory". In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "necessary cost" or "required payment".

What's the difference between "obligatory expense" and "discretionary expense"?

"Obligatory expenses" are essential and unavoidable, such as rent or loan payments. "Discretionary expenses", on the other hand, are non-essential and can be reduced or eliminated, such as entertainment or dining out.