poor cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor cost" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that is expensive relative to its value, but the expression is not standard. Example: "The product was of poor cost, as it did not meet my expectations for quality."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Do the poor cost more?

Harvard University

Investigation, however, pointed to a mixture of poor pricing, poor cost estimating, and a lack of knowledge of profitability dispersion.

Harvard Business Review

When considering a single objective, the minimization of cost or carbon emission leads to a poor cost performance.

Energy

The managers then evaluate the companies' businesses and look for strategic errors -- like poor cost controls or movement away from a core business -- that can be corrected.

The New York Times

Confusion over who is responsible for what, lack of serious evaluation, inadequate local and national accountability, perverse incentives, opaque and inefficient funding processes and poor cost control: those are just some of the weaknesses in the system for managing the expansion of the academies programme highlighted by the cross-party Public Accounts Committee in their report issued last month.

The Guardian

Either this is poor cost management on Ryanair's behalf or it's a fuel surcharge in disguise". Consumer groups say there is no recourse for travellers over the cost of surcharges as long as they are spelt out before passengers pay for their tickets.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Conversely, apart from infliximab, TNFi dose escalation seems to be poor efficacious and poor cost-effective compared with alternative strategies.

Autoimmunity Reviews

"They are obviously tackling their pretty poor cost-to-income ratio with the job cuts," Jane Coffey, head of equities at Royal London Asset Management, said.

The New York Times

Bowe will renew criticism of Network Rail for its errors, lack of focus and poor cost-estimates, which have tripled the budget for electrifying the Great Western mainline to £2.8bn in two years.

The Guardian - Business

The school, like many other for-profit institutions, has been under investigation by state and federal authorities for a while, as concerns rose that such schools represent a poor cost-benefit proposition for students.

The New York Times

In a report released earlier this month, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, an investment bank, argued that Schering's underperforming research pipeline and poor cost-cutting record, made the company vulnerable to acquisition by a private-equity firm eyeing its rich cash flow.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "poor cost", specify what aspect of the cost is problematic. For example, use "high cost" if it's too expensive, or "poor cost-effectiveness" if it doesn't provide good value. Be direct in describing the problem.

Common error

Avoid using "poor cost" without further explanation. This phrase is vague and doesn't clearly communicate the issue. Always clarify whether you mean the cost is too high, not well-managed, or doesn't provide sufficient return on investment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor cost" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "poor" modifies the noun "cost". However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase lacks a clear meaning in standard English and its usage is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "poor cost" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear, standardized meaning in English. It's frequently used in news and media, science and business contexts, but more precise alternatives such as ""high cost"", ""excessive cost"", or ""poor cost-effectiveness"" are recommended to ensure clarity. Using more descriptive terms helps to avoid ambiguity and better communicates the intended message regarding cost issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor cost-effectiveness

Specifies that the cost does not provide good value in relation to the benefits gained.

high cost

Replaces "poor" with "high", focusing on the magnitude of the cost rather than its effectiveness.

poor value for money

Highlights that the cost is not justified by the quality or utility received.

excessive cost

Emphasizes that the cost is beyond what is reasonable or justifiable.

ineffective cost

Highlights the lack of positive results or value derived from the cost.

unjustifiable expense

Focuses on the lack of valid reasons for the cost being incurred.

wasteful expenditure

Indicates that the money spent was not used efficiently or effectively.

suboptimal cost management

Points to inefficiencies and problems in how costs are being handled or controlled.

inadequate cost control

Indicates a lack of proper measures and procedures to manage and limit costs.

unsustainable financial burden

Highlights that the cost is creating significant financial strain and cannot be maintained.

FAQs

What does "poor cost" mean?

The phrase "poor cost" is not standard English and lacks a clear, universally understood meaning. It's often interpreted as either a high cost relative to value, or inefficient cost management. It's better to use more specific terms.

What can I say instead of "poor cost"?

Depending on the intended meaning, alternatives include "high cost", "excessive cost", "poor cost-effectiveness", or "inefficient cost management".

Which is correct, "poor cost" or "high cost"?

High cost is generally preferred as it directly communicates that the price is elevated. "Poor cost" is vague and may not be understood.

Is "poor cost" the same as "poor cost-effectiveness"?

No, "poor cost" is a general term, whereas "poor cost-effectiveness" specifically means that the benefits or value received are not proportional to the cost. The latter is more precise.