weak cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weak cost" is not a standard expression in written English and may not be widely understood.
It could potentially be used in contexts discussing economics or pricing strategies, but clarity may be lacking without additional context. Example: "The company decided to implement a weak cost strategy to attract more customers, despite the potential risks involved."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, has acknowledged that the scheme will cost £1.4bn to implement, but the NAO report notes that in previous major reorganisations of government departments there have been "recurring issues of weak cost control".

The Guardian

The committee also said that the scale of the contingency built into the budget –at £14.4bn, the equivalent of a third of the total – appeared to be "compensating for weak cost information".

Independent

It's especially important that the Act's rather weak cost containment provisions be strengthened.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In any other business, that would be a weak cost-benefit ratio.

The New York Times - Sports

Rollo said: Demand is still weak, costs pressures remain, and capacity is getting harder to cut.

The Guardian - Business

The Canadian dollar was weak, costs were higher, and with limited real estate development, it was difficult to find space.

The New York Times

Zandi does agree, however, with Krugman's calculation that keeping the yuan weak costs about 1.4 million American jobs.

Forbes

However, many empirical studies find only negligible or weak costs (reviewed in [ 8]).

BMC Ecology

Still, the existence, modality and extent of these costs are debated and many empirical studies have found only negligible to weak costs [e.g. [ 9, 10]]; reviewed in 8.

BMC Ecology

Eventually, this will mean weaker cost of living pressures – but for now Britain has the wrong sort of inflation.

The Guardian - Business

These seeds can be an industrial oil source and the extracted oil with a weak valued cost price might be used for different applications [ 4].

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "weak cost", ensure the context clarifies whether you mean 'low cost', 'poorly managed cost', or 'ineffective use of resources'. Providing specific details will help avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "weak cost" as a direct synonym for "low cost". "Weak cost" often implies ineffectiveness or poor management, whereas "low cost" simply indicates a small monetary value. Choose your wording carefully to convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak cost" functions primarily as an adjective-noun combination, where "weak" modifies "cost". This suggests a cost that is either low in value, poorly managed, or ineffective. As Ludwig AI points out, this term isn't standard and needs context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "weak cost" is an uncommon expression that describes a cost that is in some way deficient or ineffective. As shown by Ludwig, its meaning is context-dependent and can refer to low monetary value, poor cost management, or inefficient use of resources. Given its ambiguity, it is best to provide additional context or use more specific terms like "low cost", "ineffective pricing", or "poorly controlled costs" to avoid misinterpretation. While found in news, science, and business contexts, it is not a standard expression and thus requires careful usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

low cost

Focuses on the monetary aspect, specifically that the cost is not high.

minimal expense

Highlights the idea of a very small or insignificant expenditure.

ineffective pricing

Emphasizes that the cost structure does not achieve the desired results.

poorly controlled costs

Focuses on lack of oversight and management of expenses.

deficient expenditure

Highlights a shortfall or inadequacy in the amount spent.

inadequate funding

Emphasizes that the amount of money provided is not sufficient.

unprofitable investment

Highlights that the cost does not yield a return.

unsustainable pricing

Highlights that the cost structure cannot be maintained long-term.

marginally viable expense

Expresses that an expenditure is barely justifiable.

economically unsound price

Highlights that the price is not financially reasonable or justified.

FAQs

What does "weak cost" mean?

"Weak cost" is not a standard phrase, but generally refers to a situation where costs are either poorly managed, ineffective, or offer little value. It can also imply that cost controls are inadequate or that resources are not being used efficiently.

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

When using "weak cost", ensure that the context clarifies the intended meaning. For instance, "The project suffered from "poorly controlled costs", leading to budget overruns" or "The company's "ineffective pricing" resulted in low profit margins".

What are some alternatives to "weak cost"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "weak cost" might include "low cost", "minimal expense", "poorly controlled costs", or "ineffective pricing".

Is it grammatically correct to say "weak cost"?

While not incorrect, "weak cost" is not a commonly used phrase. It's crucial to provide sufficient context to ensure clarity. Consider using more specific and widely understood terms like "low cost" or "ineffective pricing" to avoid ambiguity.