very high fees

USAGE SUMMARY

"very high fees" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has unusually high costs associated with it. For example, "The private school had very high fees, so it was out of our price range."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"Very high fees for no value".

The New York Times

In those cases, airlines have been known to charge very high fees.

The New York Times - Travel

Mr. Montgomery's subsequent success sometimes made him the target of opponents of very high fees for lawyers.

The New York Times

Reports of very high fees in cases where employees lost jobs and creditors received pennies on the dollar have shaken public confidence, according to the Justice Department.

The New York Times

Kamuzu Academy at Mtunthama, which opened in 1981 as a selective secondary school, has increasingly become limited to those who can afford its very high fees.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After working briefly with a criminal-defense attorney named Charles Stillman, Martoma chose to retain Goodwin Procter, a major law firm with very high fees.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Ravel had collected his very high fee and, with elegant politeness, shown her the door.

The New York Times - Arts

This is a very high fee operation, with expense ratio up at 3%.

Forbes

For those not familiar with the use of this terminology in football, the "fraud" label is attached to anyone who fails to meet expectations over the course of a campaign, especially if they have spent years building their reputation, and command – often through no fault of their own – a very high fee.

Vice

When people cannot pay back their payday loans on time, the company charges another very high fee, and continues to do so until the debt is paid back in full.

WikiHow

"It's because banks were charging very high penalty fees, very high rates of interest on borrowing and some of these claims go back decades.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing fees, always specify the service or context to which the "very high fees" apply. For instance, "very high transaction fees" or "very high tuition fees".

Common error

Avoid using "very high fees" without providing context. Saying simply that a service has "very high fees" without specifying what those fees are for can be vague and uninformative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very high fees" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective phrase "very high" modifies the noun "fees". It describes fees that are significantly above the usual or expected amount. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very high fees" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe costs that are considered excessively expensive. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, highlighting concerns about unfair pricing or economic burdens. When using this phrase, it is best practice to specify the context, such as "very high transaction fees", to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "exorbitant charges" or "excessive costs" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Ultimately, the term serves to draw attention to costs deemed disproportionately high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exorbitant charges

Replaces "very high fees" with a stronger term emphasizing excessiveness.

excessive costs

Focuses on the idea that the costs are beyond what is reasonable.

inflated prices

Implies an artificial increase in the prices.

premium rates

Suggests higher costs for superior service or quality.

hefty dues

Used particularly when talking about memberships and subscriptions.

substantial tariffs

Highlights significant amounts in the context of import/export.

onerous payments

Stresses the burden the payment causes.

prohibitive expenses

Highlights the action of preventing someone from purchasing something due to cost.

punitive levies

Implies the fees are designed to punish or discourage certain actions.

steep markups

Conveys a substantial difference between the cost of production and the selling price.

FAQs

What does "very high fees" mean?

It refers to costs or charges that are significantly above the average or expected amount for a particular service or product.

When is it appropriate to use the term "very high fees"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that the costs associated with something are notably expensive, especially when compared to alternatives or expectations.

What are some alternatives to saying "very high fees"?

You can use alternatives like "exorbitant charges", "excessive costs", or "inflated prices" depending on the context.

How do "very high fees" compare to standard fees?

While standard fees represent the typical cost, "very high fees" suggest costs that are unusually or unacceptably high. It implies a negative value judgment on the cost.