trivial cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trivial cost" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase typically refers to a cost that is insignificant or relatively small. For example, "I was able to fix the broken window for a trivial cost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Even today, when adding video to a phone is a trivial cost, consumers may rebel.

The New York Times

That's a large expansion in coverage at an essentially trivial cost.

The New York Times

Clearly, the full cost of educating even a few children privately would exceed the relatively trivial cost of textbooks.

The Guardian

Tracking a person's movements for a year, collected from their cellphone, would take so little space as to carry a trivial cost.

The New York Times

Let's see if they use the increasingly trivial cost of adding an always-on connection to the global network do something clever; something no one's thought of yet.

MIT Technology Review

In fact, once you filter out the noise generated by special-interest groups, you discover that there is widespread agreement among environmental economists that a market-based program to deal with the threat of climate change — one that limits carbon emissions by putting a price on them — can achieve large results at modest, though not trivial, cost.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But he views those surgeries as trivial costs of his mushing habit.

The Washington Post

"Future citizens will look back on the actions of this government and the senators that supported it and see an intergenerational economic attack on them, in which we used the trivial costs of a carbon pricing scheme as an excuse to saddle future generations with much greater costs from climate change and decarbonisation.

The Guardian

Both banks and governments can produce money at physically trivial costs.

Forbes

- Naturalistic field studies tend to demonstrate correlations but not contingency between helping acts, and most controlled experiments involve helping acts with trivial costs or that require training, making their interpretation difficult., Perhaps most importantly, reciprocity in social vertebrates may be embedded within complex social relationships.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

Twitter's mistake in this case comes at a non-trivial cost to Adams and his employer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trivial cost", ensure the context clearly establishes that the cost is indeed insignificant relative to the overall situation being described.

Common error

Avoid using "trivial cost" when the cost, although small, still has a meaningful impact or requires significant effort to obtain. Ensure it genuinely represents a negligible expense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trivial cost" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "trivial" modifies the noun "cost". It is used to characterize an expense as being small and insignificant. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trivial cost" effectively communicates that an expense is negligible. Grammatically sound and usable across various contexts, it often serves to minimize financial concerns or emphasize the relative unimportance of a cost. Though not exceptionally common, its usage is correct and understood. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for written English, making it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary when aiming to downplay expenses. Related options include "negligible expense" or "minimal charge". It's best practice to employ it only when the cost is genuinely insignificant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible expense

Emphasizes the insignificance of the cost, focusing on its almost nonexistent impact.

insignificant expenditure

Highlights that the amount spent is small and unimportant.

minimal charge

Focuses on the low amount of money required.

minor fee

Suggests the cost is small and easily manageable.

small price

Implies that the cost is not a significant obstacle.

modest cost

Indicates that the price is reasonable and not excessive.

low expenditure

Simply states that the spending is at a reduced level.

nominal sum

Emphasizes that the amount of money is very small.

paltry amount

Highlights the cost as being contemptibly small.

trifling expense

Indicates the cost is so small it's hardly worth considering.

FAQs

How can I use "trivial cost" in a sentence?

You can use "trivial cost" to describe something inexpensive relative to its benefits. For example, "Adding extra memory to the server was a "trivial cost" compared to the performance boost we received".

What are some synonyms for "trivial cost"?

Alternatives for "trivial cost" include "negligible expense", "insignificant expenditure", or "minimal charge" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "trivial cost"?

Use "trivial cost" when the expense is so small it's almost not worth mentioning in relation to a larger process, project or outcome. For instance, "The "minor fee" for the software update was a "trivial cost" compared to the overall project budget".

Is "trivial cost" formal or informal language?

"Trivial cost" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal or business writing, alternatives such as "modest cost" or "low expenditure" might be preferred.