significant expense

USAGE SUMMARY

"significant expense" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a large or notable amount of money or resources that are spent on something. Example: The construction of the new office building was a significant expense for the company, but it was necessary due to the company's growth and expansion plans.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

One significant expense that you can save on is food and drink.

The Guardian - Travel

We lived on a very tight budget, so the postage must have been a significant expense".

The Guardian - Books

To add bomb-sniffers, plus personnel, to every station would be a significant expense.

The New York Times

Similar relief could be coming from another less obvious, but significant, expense — namely, closing costs.

The New York Times

Besides, managing and re-shelving fifty million patent documents was a significant expense.

The New Yorker

My one significant expense would be a professional developer for urbanhound.com.

The New York Times - Magazine

For a typical family in America making $50K, this is a significant expense.

Columbia University

The automated pump, Lou explains, is relatively efficient but comes with significant expense.

Cornell University

However, the most significant expense is from lost or diminished productivity.

Harvard Business Review

This approach was physically complex and required significant expense and time.

Optical Fiber Telecommunications IV-B

For working parents, summer presents a logistical challenge, and often a significant expense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a "significant expense", provide context by quantifying the expense or explaining its impact on the budget.

Common error

Avoid using "significant expense" for trivial costs. Ensure the expense genuinely warrants the descriptor "significant" relative to the overall financial context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant expense" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It identifies and describes a cost that is noteworthy due to its size or impact, as evidenced by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

27%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant expense" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase denoting a considerable cost, predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately describes a noteworthy expenditure. When using this phrase, ensure the cost is genuinely significant and provide context for its impact. While alternatives like "substantial cost" or "major expenditure" exist, "significant expense" is effective in conveying the importance and scale of the expenditure. Remember to consider the register and appropriateness based on your specific writing context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major expenditure

Replaces "expense" with "expenditure", emphasizing the act of spending.

substantial cost

Substitutes "expense" with "cost", focusing on the financial burden.

considerable outlay

Uses "outlay" to highlight the financial resources allocated.

large capital expenditure

Specifies the expense as a "capital expenditure", indicating investment in fixed assets.

notable investment

Frames the expense as an "investment", suggesting a potential return or value.

sizeable financial commitment

Highlights the "commitment" aspect of allocating a large sum.

heavy financial burden

Emphasizes the impact of the expense as a "burden".

considerable financial burden

Highlights that the expense is a "considerable burden".

significant financial obligation

Focuses on the obligatory nature of the expense.

major financial undertaking

Presents the expense as a "financial undertaking", implying a project or endeavor.

FAQs

How can I use "significant expense" in a sentence?

You can use "significant expense" to describe something costly, as in: "The new equipment was a "significant expense" for the company".

What are some alternatives to saying "significant expense"?

Alternatives include "substantial cost", "major expenditure", or "considerable outlay", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "significant expense" or "high expense"?

"Significant expense" implies that the expense is not only high but also noteworthy or impactful. "High expense" simply refers to the amount. The better choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "significant expense" and "major expense"?

While both terms denote a large cost, "significant expense" often suggests a more considerable impact or consequence, while "major expense" primarily emphasizes the scale of the expenditure. The terms are largely interchangeable, but can denote slightly different impacts.