particularly costly

USAGE SUMMARY

"particularly costly" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when you want to emphasize that something is more expensive than expected or more than other similar things. For example, "This type of car is particularly costly to maintain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Navies were a particularly costly commodity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The ruling was particularly costly to Schumacher, Montoya and da Matta.

The New York Times - Sports

Flooding has already proved to be particularly costly for the UK in recent years.

The Guardian

Hughes made three particularly costly mistakes, and they ended up as home runs for Toronto.

The New York Times - Sports

These purchases are unlikely to be money-spinners.They will prove particularly costly if the economy slows.

The Economist

This buck-passing proved particularly costly at UBS, which lost SFr36 billion ($34 billion) on CDOs.

The Economist

It's a particularly costly problem for the banks, since London – despite fierce and combative efforts by Milan, Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin – clearly has become Europe's financial center.

The Guardian - Money

When a moving vehicle collides with a person on foot, this is a particularly costly and tragic form of traffic spillover.

The New Yorker

This was partly because reporting wars is always very expensive and is particularly costly in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the need to pay security companies.

Independent

Particularly costly silk carpets with figure motifs (such as the silk hunting carpet in Vienna's Austrian Museum of Applied Art) were probably woven in Kāshān, Persia's silk centre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While an individual country can, in some circumstances, gain from protecting its infant industries, this protection is particularly costly for the international community as a whole.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "particularly costly", ensure you provide context to clarify what makes it so expensive. For example, specify the reasons for the high cost or compare it to alternatives.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers with "particularly costly". Phrases like "very particularly costly" are redundant. Choose the single most appropriate intensifier to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "particularly costly" functions as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the adjective 'costly'. It's used to describe nouns, emphasizing that something is notably expensive or has significant negative consequences. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "particularly costly" is a frequently used adjectival phrase that intensifies the notion of something being expensive or detrimental. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted. Its primary function is to emphasize a high cost or significant negative impact across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias. While alternatives like "especially expensive" and "prohibitively expensive" exist, "particularly costly" provides a balanced and widely understood way to convey substantial expense or burden. It is important to provide context when using this phrase to clarify the specific reasons for the high cost.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

especially expensive

Replaces "particularly" with "especially", maintaining the emphasis on high cost.

prohibitively expensive

Implies the cost is so high that it prevents purchase or action.

remarkably overpriced

Highlights that the cost is unexpectedly high compared to the value.

unduly burdensome financially

Emphasizes the excessive financial strain or hardship caused.

excessively high in price

Focuses on the price being beyond reasonable or acceptable limits.

unusually lavish

Highlights the extravagance and high expense.

exceptionally dear

Uses 'dear' to indicate high cost or value, making it more formal.

significantly detrimental

Shifts focus from monetary cost to the substantial negative consequences.

inordinately extravagant

Suggests an extreme degree of luxury and expense.

not cost-effective

Highlights the lack of value relative to the expense.

FAQs

How can I use "particularly costly" in a sentence?

You can use "particularly costly" to describe something that is more expensive or has greater negative consequences than usual. For example, "The repairs were "particularly costly" due to the rare parts needed."

What are some alternatives to saying "particularly costly"?

Alternatives include "especially expensive", "prohibitively expensive", or "remarkably overpriced", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "very particularly costly"?

While understandable, "very particularly costly" can be redundant. Opt for a single, strong intensifier such as ""especially expensive"" or simply ""particularly costly"" for clearer writing.

What's the difference between "particularly costly" and "expensive"?

"Expensive" indicates a high price, while ""particularly costly"" emphasizes that the cost is notably higher than what is typical or expected, indicating a significant financial burden or consequence.