side costs

USAGE SUMMARY

"side costs" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
The correct term is "additional costs" or "incidental costs." A sentence using these terms could be: "The project budget includes additional costs for materials and labor." or "The hotel stay may have incidental costs for room service or laundry service."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Fuel side costs are defined as the costs resulting from flue gas cleaning and by-products.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

An Upper Class return to New York, with driver on either side, costs £3,595.70.

The Guardian

Buyers should estimate 15 percent of the sales price for side costs, said Mr. Dunn.

The New York Times

Buyers should estimate about 13.2 percent of the purchase price for side costs.

The New York Times

(Tours on the Brazilian side costs 24 reais – about $12 – but you can request one in English).

The New York Times

Buyers should estimate about 2.4percentt of the selling price for purchase side costs, according to Mr. Juan.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Exterior spandrels made of poplar start at $9 per foot, and gables, measuring six feet on each side, cost $194 each.

The New York Times

The Tax Policy Center estimates that individual tax expenditures will reduce federal revenues by $942 billion this year, while all tax expenditures, including those on the corporate side, cost $1.3 trillion.

The New York Times

From the government's side, cost concerns have already led to discussions of slowing the transition, leading to a push pullback policy approach.

Energy Policy

Thus policy to reduce utilization has ignored the supply side cost sharing.

Health Economics Review

The government has also used demand side cost sharing measures to curb utilization rates due to moral hazard1.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to additional costs, consider using more precise and widely accepted terms like "additional expenses" or "incidental costs" to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using imprecise terms like "side costs" when specific cost types (e.g., "legal fees", "taxes", "maintenance") can be identified. Clearly specifying cost categories improves budget accuracy and transparency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "side costs" functions as a noun phrase referring to costs that are additional or secondary to a main expense. Ludwig AI suggests that more conventional alternatives like "additional costs" or "incidental costs" are preferable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "side costs" appears in various contexts, including news and scientific publications, it is generally considered less precise and grammatically sound than alternatives such as "additional expenses" or "incidental costs". As Ludwig AI indicates, these alternatives are preferable for clarity and professional communication. Therefore, when describing additional expenses, it's best practice to use more specific and widely accepted terms to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. Despite being present in several articles in the Ludwig database, this is a red flag on the writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

additional expenses

Replaces "costs" with "expenses", providing a more common and general term for extra outlays.

incidental costs

Specifies the costs as being minor and occurring in connection with something else.

ancillary costs

Highlights that these costs are supplementary or auxiliary to the main cost.

associated costs

Emphasizes the link or connection between these costs and a primary activity or item.

related expenses

Similar to "associated costs", but replaces "costs" with "expenses" for broader applicability.

indirect costs

Focuses on costs not directly attributable to a specific project or activity.

supplementary charges

Uses "charges" instead of "costs" and highlights that they are added on top of the base price.

extra charges

Simple and direct way of stating that there are additional fees.

hidden costs

Implies that these costs are not immediately obvious or disclosed.

secondary costs

Suggests that costs occur as a consequence or secondarily to the main activity.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "side costs"?

You can use alternatives like "additional expenses", "incidental costs", or "associated costs" depending on the context.

Is "side costs" grammatically correct?

While sometimes used, "side costs" is not considered the most grammatically sound phrase. Using more precise terms such as "ancillary costs" is generally preferred.

How can I make my writing about costs more precise?

Instead of using general terms, specify the types of costs involved. For example, use "legal fees", "transfer taxes", or "maintenance costs" instead of vague descriptions.

When is it appropriate to use the term "side costs"?

While not strictly incorrect, "side costs" is best avoided in formal writing. Opt for more precise language like "related expenses" or clarify the specific nature of the costs being discussed.