possibly more costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possibly more costly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing potential expenses or costs that may exceed a certain amount or expectation. Example: "While the initial investment is low, the ongoing maintenance could be possibly more costly than anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This will be more complex and challenging, possibly more costly, and potentially more risky, especially because required changes may be quite disruptive of established public-sector structures, culture and management arrangements.

The Economist

8On the other hand, by serving as a means to cope with risks and to relax the farmers' liquidity constraints ( Key et al. 2006 ), government payments can be used by farmers to finance other productive, possibly more costly but higher-return activities, both on and off the farm, which may increase their probability to migrate out ( Stark and Taylor 1991 ; Zhao 1999 ; Uchida et al. 2005 ).

IZA Journal of Migration

If this happened we run the risk of needing to find other, possibly more costly ways, to reduce our carbon output, unless we proactively work to protect our forests.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

41 Small differences in the costs of cardiac rehabilitation were seen for the two trials based in the UK. 31 42 The trial by Jolly et al (Birmingham rehabilitation uptake maximisation (BRUM)) found that the home based programme was more costly, possibly because of the higher rate of home visiting undertaken in this study compared with CHARMS.

British Medical Journal

The administration feared that details on healthier banks would inevitably leak out, leaving weaker banks exposed to speculation and damaging market rumors, possibly making any further bailouts more costly.

The New York Times

Edward A. Kwalwasser, who oversees the exchange's regulatory unit, defended the track record of his unit and said the changes being proposed would be more costly and possibly less efficient.

The New York Times

Last year, trucking companies accelerated their purchases in order to limit their exposure to the costlier and possibly more problematic 2007 models.

Forbes

Companies like Navistar accelerated their purchases in late 2006 attempting to limit exposure to the costlier and possibly more problematic 2007 models.

Forbes

Even when individual matching of records is not possible, a Big Data approach is helpful in revealing changing mortality and morbidity patterns in time and place just as it can be used in other fields for the early detection of defects—in view of possibly taking preventive measures rather than more costly curative ones.

Genus

There is a risk that climate change will happen faster or be more costly than we anticipate, possibly threatening humanity's very existence.

The Economist

If the Genesis mission is ultimately judged a failure, should it make decision-makers and observers less optimistic about the planned mission to Mars, a venture that is sure to prove even more costly, more risky and possibly more hazardous?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing options, use "possibly more costly" to acknowledge a potential increase in price without stating it as a certainty. This allows for a balanced and objective assessment of different choices.

Common error

Avoid using "possibly more costly" when the increased expense is already confirmed. Instead, use phrases like "definitely more costly" or "undoubtedly more costly" to reflect the certainty of the higher price.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possibly more costly" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something has the potential to be more expensive than another option or expectation. It suggests a degree of uncertainty regarding the actual cost.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "possibly more costly" is used to express a degree of uncertainty about a potential increase in expenses. It functions as an adjectival phrase, warning about the potential financial implications of a choice or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and appears in various reputable sources, including news media and scientific publications. While the phrase is relatively rare, it is appropriate for neutral and professional communication. Consider using semantically similar alternatives such as "potentially more expensive" or "perhaps more expensive" based on the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potentially more expensive

Replaces "costly" with its direct synonym "expensive" and "possibly" with "potentially", slightly increasing the formality.

perhaps more expensive

Substitutes "possibly" with "perhaps", softening the degree of uncertainty.

may be more costly

Uses "may" to express possibility, sounding slightly more formal than "possibly".

conceivably more costly

Replaces "possibly" with "conceivably", highlighting a possibility that might not be immediately obvious.

might be more costly

Changes the structure to a verb phrase, emphasizing the possibility of increased cost.

could be more costly

Uses "could" to indicate a conditional possibility of increased cost.

ostensibly more costly

Suggests that something appears more costly, but may not actually be so after closer examination.

seemingly more costly

Emphasizes that something gives the initial impression of being more costly.

at a potentially higher cost

Restructures the phrase to focus on the "cost" aspect, using "potentially" to indicate possibility.

with potentially higher expenses

Shifts the focus to "expenses" rather than "cost", implying a broader range of potential financial burdens.

FAQs

How can I use "possibly more costly" in a sentence?

Use "possibly more costly" to indicate a potential increase in expenses compared to an alternative. For example: "While option A has a lower initial price, option B might prove "possibly more costly" in the long run due to maintenance expenses."

What is a good alternative to "possibly more costly"?

Alternatives include "potentially more expensive", "perhaps more expensive", or "seemingly more costly", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "possibly more costly" in formal writing?

Yes, "possibly more costly" is suitable for formal writing, as it conveys uncertainty in a professional and objective manner. However, consider using alternatives like "potentially more costly" in contexts requiring a higher degree of formality.

What's the difference between "possibly more costly" and "definitely more costly"?

"Possibly more costly" indicates a potential increase in expenses that is not yet confirmed. On the other hand, "definitely more costly" suggests that the increase in expenses is certain and beyond doubt.