whose expense

USAGE SUMMARY

"whose expense" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the person who is responsible for or pays for something. For example: "The company decided to take the team to dinner, at whose expense?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

But at whose expense?

The New York Times - Books

But at whose expense domestically?

The New York Times

Who gained ground, and at whose expense?

The Guardian

"At whose expense?" At the state's expense.

The Guardian - Music

Was it a joke, and if so, at whose expense?

The Guardian - Arts

And Kevin Burdette is stentorian as General Boum, at whose expense Fritz is promoted.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The Duchess appears with the young man whose expenses she pays.

The New York Times

Ever frugal, never flamboyant, he favored charities whose expenses were low, to maximize the impact of his gifts.

The New York Times

We heard it again from Baroness Warsi, whose expenses are currently under investigation but which she insists were "in accordance with the law".

Independent

Also yesterday, Alan G. Hevesi, the state comptroller, named six more school districts whose expenses are being audited, bringing to 20 the number of Long Island school districts under scrutiny.

The New York Times

For these owner-operators, whose expenses come out of their own pockets, life has become a faucet of misery with no stopcock.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "whose expense", ensure the context clearly indicates the activity or resource being paid for. Clarity prevents ambiguity about the burden or cost.

Common error

Avoid confusing "whose" with "who's" (who is). "Whose" indicates possession, as in "whose expense is this?", whereas "who's" is a contraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose expense" functions as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about the entity or individual responsible for covering the cost or bearing the burden of a particular action, event, or situation. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this interrogative function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose expense" is a grammatically sound phrase used to inquire about the entity or individual bearing the cost or burden of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and commonly used. Its primary contexts are News & Media and Academia. When writing, it's important to avoid confusing "whose" with "who's". Related alternatives include "at whose cost" and "who bears the burden". The phrase's function is primarily interrogative, seeking clarification on financial or other burdens. While the phrase has neutral connotation, you can use alternatives such as "to whose disadvantage" when you are aiming at emphasizing a negative impact on a specific person or group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at whose cost

Replaces "expense" with "cost", emphasizing the financial or non-financial burden.

at whose sacrifice

Highlights the act of giving something up, focusing on the person making the sacrifice.

to whose disadvantage

Highlights the negative impact on a specific person or group.

who bears the burden

Shifts the focus to the weight or difficulty someone carries as a result.

at whose detriment

Similar to 'disadvantage', but implies a more significant or lasting negative impact.

who foots the bill

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the financial responsibility.

who is affected

Broadens the scope to include anyone impacted, not just financially.

at whose liability

Emphasizes legal or financial responsibility.

who is accountable

Focuses on the responsibility and answerability for the outcome.

who underwrites it

Focuses on the entity providing financial backing or guaranteeing the endeavor.

FAQs

How can I use "whose expense" in a sentence?

The phrase "whose expense" is used to inquire about who is bearing the cost of something. For instance, "The project succeeded, but at "whose expense" was that success achieved?"

What does "whose expense" mean?

It means "at the cost of whom?" or "who is paying for it?". It questions the source of funding or the entity bearing the negative consequences.

Are there alternatives to using "whose expense"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "at whose cost?", "who is responsible financially?", or "who is sacrificing what?" For example you could say something such as at "whose cost"?

Is it grammatically correct to use "whose expense"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Whose" is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership or responsibility, and "expense" is a noun referring to a cost or outlay. The phrase is thus a valid construction.