significant outlay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant outlay" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a considerable expenditure or investment in a project or initiative. An example could be: "The company made a significant outlay on new technology to improve efficiency." Alternative expressions include "substantial investment" and "major expenditure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

This is a significant outlay given the community's average per capita income of less than $1 per day.

The Guardian

Unlike tattoos or knee-high gladiator sandals, a nail varnish requires no significant outlay of cash, much less an emotional commitment.

The New York Times

And unlike more risky pursuits like proprietary trading or structured products, bond trading does not require a significant outlay of capital.

The New York Times

It was Suffolk's most significant outlay for land since the County Legislature adopted strict new procedures that tie what the county can pay for any land purchase to county appraisals.

The New York Times

Steve Bruce, who has six months to run on his contract at Hull City, will be interested in the role and is close to Carr but has struggled at the KC Stadium throughout 2014 despite a significant outlay on transfers.

The Guardian - Sport

Nearly 9 out of 10 said protecting the city from flooding was worth a significant outlay of federal money, with almost as many saying that even low-lying areas should be rebuilt along with an improved levee system.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"The city has to begin to plan for some significant outlays," said Jim Reynolds, an investment manager and new member of the board, who was attending his first agency board meeting since Mr. Emanuel replaced the three hold-over mayoral appointees on the seven-member panel.

The New York Times

Other significant outlays have included a $1 billion investment in cable operators Comcast cmcsa and $3 billion in U.S. West- and TCI-owned UK cable operator Telewest twsty.

Forbes

There are also significant outlays for areas like alumni cultivation, development, and federal and state reporting mandates.

Huffington Post

Fostering these activities does not necessarily require a significant capital outlay.

The New York Times

For BET taking on "The Game" is a significant financial outlay, and also a leap of faith that the show can keep the trust of an already loyal audience.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant outlay", ensure the context clearly indicates what the money was spent on and why the amount is considered significant. Provide specific figures or comparisons to illustrate the scale of the investment.

Common error

Avoid using "significant outlay" when the amount spent is relatively small or doesn't have a major impact. Use more appropriate terms like "minor expense" or "small investment" if the amount is not truly substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant outlay" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "outlay". It describes a specific amount of money spent, emphasizing the scale and importance of the expenditure. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant outlay" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase to describe a substantial expenditure. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability and correctness. It's often found in news, scientific, and business contexts, highlighting the scale and importance of an investment. When using the phrase, ensure the amount spent is genuinely significant and provide context to illustrate the magnitude of the investment. Alternatives like "substantial expenditure" or "considerable investment" can be used depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantial expenditure

Replaces "outlay" with "expenditure" and "significant" with "substantial", emphasizing the amount of money spent.

considerable investment

Substitutes "outlay" with "investment", highlighting the aspect of putting money into something for future benefit, and replaces "significant" with "considerable".

large expense

Uses simpler terms, replacing "significant" with "large" and "outlay" with "expense".

major financial commitment

Emphasizes the commitment aspect of spending money, replacing "outlay" with "financial commitment" and "significant" with "major".

heavy investment

Similar to 'considerable investment' but uses 'heavy' to emphasize the burden or impact of the investment.

notable expenditure

Replaces 'significant' with 'notable', focusing on the remarkability of the expenditure.

sizable disbursement

Uses a more formal term, "disbursement", to refer to the payment of money, and replaces "significant" with "sizable".

important financial contribution

Highlights the importance of the financial contribution, changing the focus slightly.

major cash injection

Implies the act of introducing a large sum of money to improve a situation.

significant capital commitment

Specifically refers to a commitment of capital, often for business or investment purposes.

FAQs

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

You can use "significant outlay" to describe a large amount of money spent on something, for example, "The company made a "significant outlay" on new equipment to improve production efficiency".

What's a good alternative to "significant outlay"?

Alternatives include "substantial expenditure", "considerable investment", or "large expense" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "significant investment" or "significant outlay"?

Both phrases are valid, but "significant outlay" emphasizes the act of spending, while "significant investment" highlights the expectation of future returns or benefits from the expenditure.

What's the difference between "significant outlay" and "minor expense"?

"Significant outlay" implies a substantial sum of money, while "minor expense" refers to a small, less impactful expenditure. The choice depends on the scale of the cost being described.