surcharge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surcharge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an additional charge or fee added to the original price of a product or service. Example: "Due to increased shipping costs, we will have to implement a surcharge on all international orders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was also required to pay a £52 victim surcharge.

The Guardian - Music

From £50 a night (sleeps two adults and two children), £17 a child a night surcharge, canopyandstars.co.uk.

The Guardian - Travel

At a private dinner on Thursday evening at Stubb's residence, a summer house overlooking the Baltic sea, Cameron reportedly brandished opinion poll figures suggesting the European commission's £1.7bn budget surcharge had produced a 10% swing towards leaving the EU among British voters.

The Guardian

The UK's position could be further weakened by indications that the Netherlands – which was hit with a £600m surcharge – is ready to go along with the deal.

The Guardian

She was ordered to pay compensation, a fine, costs and a surcharge: a total of over £200 to be taken off someone who'd only committed a crime because she had no money.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was also ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs, making a total of £525, payable within 28 days.

The Guardian

Alexander Stubb, Finland's prime minister, said it would be a "travesty" if the UK decided to leave the EU because of immigration worries and the European commission's recent £1.7bn budget surcharge.

The Guardian

These "feed-in tariffs" were paid for by a surcharge on all electricity bills.

The Economist

As the renewables surcharge has risen, ever more companies have demanded exemptions.

The Economist

After a fierce campaign their call was rejected, though the regulator approved a small solar surcharge.

The Economist

The agreement on a surcharge for the SIFIs comes on top of already-agreed "Basel 3" rules requiring all banks to raise their core-capital buffers to at least 7% of their risk-weighted assets.The proposal has its critics.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surcharge", specify the reason for the additional charge to provide transparency to the customer. For instance, mention "fuel surcharge" or "peak season surcharge".

Common error

Avoid using "surcharge" when the cost is already integrated into the base price. A "surcharge" is an additional fee, not a component of the original cost.

Linguistic Context

The term "surcharge" functions primarily as a noun, referring to an additional charge or fee levied on top of the standard price. According to Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "surcharge" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun that denotes an additional charge or fee added to the original price. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. It's frequently used in contexts related to news, business, and economics, indicating its relevance in formal and professional communication. When using "surcharge", be sure to clarify the reason for the extra charge. Alternatives like "additional fee" or "extra charge" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

additional fee

Replaces "surcharge" with a more general term for an extra cost.

extra charge

Similar to "additional fee", offering a straightforward substitute for "surcharge".

premium

Suggests an additional cost for enhanced service or quality.

additional cost

A broader term indicating an extra expense.

supplementary charge

More formal alternative, implying an added charge.

excess charge

Implies a charge that is more than what is considered reasonable.

tariff

Often used in the context of international trade or services.

levy

A formal term for imposing an extra fee or tax.

assessment

An evaluation that results in an additional charge.

tax

A mandatory contribution to state revenue.

FAQs

How is "surcharge" typically used in a sentence?

The term "surcharge" is used to indicate an additional fee or charge that is added to the original price. For example, "The airline imposed a fuel surcharge due to rising oil prices."

What are some alternatives to "surcharge"?

You can use alternatives such as "additional fee", "extra charge", or "premium" depending on the context.

What is the difference between a "surcharge" and a tax?

A "surcharge" is an additional charge on top of an existing fee or price, often temporary or for a specific reason. A tax, on the other hand, is a mandatory contribution to state revenue and is generally more permanent.

Is it correct to use "surcharge" as a verb?

Yes, "surcharge" can be used as a verb, meaning to impose an additional charge. For example, "The company decided to surcharge customers for excessive data usage."