pay a cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pay a cost" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It typically means to incur or bear a financial or personal burden in exchange for something. Example: "The decision to build a new factory will allow for increased production, but it comes at a significant cost. The company will have to pay a cost of approximately $5 million."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

But one consequence of this is to lead to the conclusion that native American workers pay a cost.

The Economist

"There's no question that we will pay a cost in terms of much diminished growth if this continues".

The New York Times

Why should this manufacturing be more expensive by having to pay a cost for carbon when your nation's manufacturing boom did not?

The Guardian

Having publicly warned Putin that Russia would pay a cost for interfering in Ukraine militarily, President Obama is already being criticized by Republicans for being weak and naïve in his dealings with Moscow.

The New Yorker

The Icao talks are pursuing a twin track approach of making airlines pay a cost for their CO2 output under a market-based scheme, and greening aircraft with a new fuel efficiency standard.

The Guardian

Suppose the SU has to pay a cost for a transmission, as doing so consuming energy.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

But we are paying a cost for the privilege of squirreling them away in drawers and on dressers.

The New York Times

"This report makes it clear that every American pays a cost when a young person leaves school without a diploma".

The New York Times

Cooperation is what happens when someone or something gets a benefit because someone or something else pays a cost.

The New York Times - Science

In exchange for this potential future profit, the buyer pays a cost -- or premium -- that is high.

The New York Times

They have committed a fraud upon the shareholders of AT&T by tricking a competitor into paying a cost that is rightly theirs".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pay a cost" when you want to emphasize that something valuable is being given up or expended in order to achieve a particular outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "pay a cost" and "pay the price" interchangeably. While they both involve sacrifice, "pay a cost" usually refers to a planned or expected expenditure, whereas "pay the price" typically implies suffering negative consequences for a mistake or misjudgment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pay a cost" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of incurring an expense or making a sacrifice. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, providing examples across various contexts. As evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig, this commonly involves accepting a negative impact in order to obtain a benefit.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pay a cost" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of incurring an expense or making a sacrifice to achieve a desired outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. While alternatives like "incur a financial burden" or "bear the expense" exist, "pay a cost" provides a general way to acknowledge the trade-offs involved in various decisions. Remember that the phrase is correct and commonly used in written English. Understanding its purpose and function helps to avoid its misuse in place of alternatives such as "pay the price". Given that it's frequently found in the fields of Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business, one should be mindful to apply it in such scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet the outlay

Highlights covering the expense.

incur a financial burden

Focuses specifically on the financial aspect of the cost.

bear the expense

Highlights the act of carrying or handling the cost.

shoulder the responsibility

Emphasizes the obligation to cover the cost, shifting the meaning slightly towards accountability.

carry the overhead

Related but more related to the cost of running a business

underwrite the expenditure

Shifts the meaning to providing financial support.

suffer the consequences

Focuses on negative outcomes associated with the cost.

shell out the price

Slightly informal, emphasizing the payment aspect.

face the penalty

Highlights the punitive aspect.

spend the money

Highlights the direct act of spending the money.

FAQs

How can I use "pay a cost" in a sentence?

The phrase "pay a cost" is used to indicate that a sacrifice or expenditure is necessary to achieve a certain outcome. For instance, "Companies often "pay a cost" to implement sustainable practices".

What phrases are similar to "pay a cost"?

Alternatives to "pay a cost" include "incur a financial burden", "bear the expense", or "shoulder the responsibility", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "pay a cost" or "pay the price"?

The choice between "pay a cost" and "pay the price" depends on the context. "Pay a cost" suggests a planned expense, while "pay the price" implies negative consequences. For example, "The company will "pay a cost" to upgrade its equipment," versus "They will "pay the price" for their negligence".

What's the difference between "bear the expense" and "pay a cost"?

"Bear the expense" and "pay a cost" are very similar. "Bear the expense" may imply slightly more of a burden, while "pay a cost" is more neutral, but the difference is subtle.