what will it cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what will it cost" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring about the price or expense of a product or service. Example: "Before we proceed with the project, I need to know what will it cost to complete the renovations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What will it cost to fix?

The Economist

What will it cost us?

The Guardian - Books

- What will it cost her?

The Guardian - Books

But what will it cost?

The New York Times

3. What will it cost?

Harvard Business Review

What will it cost to sign them?

The New York Times - Sports

We thought, What will it cost us?

The New York Times - Magazine

What Will It Cost to Cover China?

The New Yorker

"What will it cost to rebuild the new damage?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

What'll it cost you?

Huffington Post

Updated at 7.31pm BST 2.56pm BST What will it cost?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "what will it cost", be specific about what you're asking about. Provide context to ensure the respondent understands what expenses or consequences they should consider.

Common error

Don't use "what will it cost" without specifying what 'it' refers to. Unclear references can lead to inaccurate or unhelpful responses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what will it cost" functions primarily as an interrogative, specifically designed to elicit information regarding the price, expense, or potential consequences associated with a particular action, service, or item. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its role in seeking cost-related information across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

22%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what will it cost" is a grammatically sound and versatile interrogative used to inquire about expenses, consequences, or resource requirements. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia. It's essential to provide clear context when using this phrase to ensure accurate and relevant responses. While alternatives like "how much does it cost" or "what's the price" exist, "what will it cost" encompasses a broader range of implications, making it a valuable tool in various communicative scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is the price

Focuses directly on the monetary value.

how much does it cost

A more direct and common way to inquire about the price.

what are the expenses

Highlights the different elements involved in the cost.

what is the financial impact

Shifts the focus to the financial consequences.

what are the implications

Broadens the scope to include non-monetary consequences.

what is the outlay

Focuses on the initial investment or expenditure.

what is the investment

Highlights the long-term financial commitment.

what is the tariff

Specifically refers to a charge or fee.

what is the damage

An informal way to ask about the cost, often implying a significant expense.

what is the bottom line

Asks for the final or total cost.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what will it cost" to sound more formal?

In formal settings, you can use phrases like "what is the projected expenditure?", "what are the anticipated expenses?", or "what is the financial impact assessment?".

What's a more casual way to ask "what will it cost"?

Informally, you could say "how much is this going to set me back?", "what's the damage?", or simply "how much will it be?"

How does the meaning of "what will it cost" change depending on the context?

The meaning remains the same, but the context determines whether you're asking about monetary expenses, time investment, or other resources. Understanding the context is crucial for accurate interpretation.

Is "what will it cost" interchangeable with "how much will it be"?

While similar, "what will it cost" is broader and can refer to more than just money, whereas "how much will it be" almost always refers to a monetary amount. Consider phrases such as "what is the price" or "how much does it cost".