too costly for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too costly for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is excessively expensive for a particular purpose or recipient. Example: "The new software is too costly for our small business to implement at this time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even that is getting too costly for some.

The New York Times

But this approach is too costly for large-scale use.

The Economist

This flood of litigation has proved too costly for insurers.

The New York Times

Labor in this country is too costly for that task.

The New York Times

It was still too costly for general NHS use.

The Guardian

Agriculture has been blasted, and imported food is too costly for most.

The Economist

The combination might prove too costly for United States motorists, though.

The New York Times

He said he feared they would be too costly for the state to run.

The New York Times

These subsidies are inequitable and far too costly for the American taxpayer.

The New York Times

"The process is too heavy, too costly for the outcome," Nanterme said.

Independent

Running two styles of cars for another year would have been too costly for the teams.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too costly for", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what cannot afford the item or service. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "too costly for" without explicitly stating who or what finds it too expensive. For example, instead of just saying "the project was too costly", specify "the project was "too costly for" the company's budget".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too costly for" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something exceeds the financial capabilities or budgetary constraints of the specified subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too costly for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that something is unaffordable or financially unviable. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating who or what finds the subject "too costly". Alternatives include "prohibitively expensive for" or "unaffordable for", offering similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibitively expensive for

Emphasizes the expensiveness prevents someone from being able to afford something.

unaffordable for

Directly states that something is not within someone's financial reach.

out of reach financially for

Highlights the financial inaccessibility of something.

beyond the budget of

Focuses on the budgetary limitations that make something unattainable.

not financially feasible for

Indicates that something is not viable from a financial standpoint.

excessively priced for

Highlights the high price as the reason for unsuitability.

uneconomical for

Suggests that the cost outweighs the benefits, making it not worthwhile.

too extravagant for

Emphasizes the excessive nature of the cost.

not sustainable financially for

Implies that the costs are so high that it cannot be maintained in the long run.

a luxury that is unaffordable for

Framing an item as a luxury emphasizes that the cost goes above what is required or justifiable.

FAQs

How can I use "too costly for" in a sentence?

You can use "too costly for" to indicate that something is unaffordable or not financially viable for someone or something. For example: "The repairs were "too costly for" the homeowner to afford".

What are some alternatives to "too costly for"?

Alternatives include "prohibitively expensive for", "unaffordable for", or "beyond the budget of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "too costly for"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It is a common and accepted way to express that something is excessively expensive for a particular purpose or entity.

What's the difference between "too costly for" and "too expensive for"?

While both phrases convey that something is unaffordable, "too costly for" might subtly imply that the value received does not justify the expense, whereas "too expensive for" simply indicates that the price is beyond someone's budget. They are often interchangeable, but "too costly" can suggest a value judgment.