worthwhile expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worthwhile expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing whether a particular cost or investment is justified by the benefits it provides. Example: "Investing in a quality education is often seen as a worthwhile expense for long-term career growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But Mr Davis believes clients see it as a worthwhile expense.

The Economist

So the $100 per hour in gas and airport fees it costs to ride in the Cessna seems to him a worthwhile expense.

The New York Times

And now that it takes $50 before you get free shipping, Prime probably looks like a worthwhile expense to more people.

TechCrunch

This is not to say that accreditation, for example, is not a worthwhile expense.

Huffington Post

I personally still consider outsourcing a "splurge", but it's a worthwhile expense at times and an investment in peace of mind.

Huffington Post

In particular, some felt that private dental care would be safer and more comfortable for their child so having to pay for that was a worthwhile expense.

BMC Oral Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Accrediting bodies must ensure FPCUs are spending money on worthwhile educational expenses and doing so efficiently and in the best interests of students.

Huffington Post

Mr. West made it clear that he considered the expense worthwhile.

The New York Times - Arts

Buying a plane ticket with some flexibility can make the extra expense worthwhile should your travel plans change.

The New York Times - Travel

While the city does not expect to save money with the site, Mr. Finch said, he considers the expense worthwhile.

The New York Times - Tech

Most of those under construction are not even "capture-ready", as the industry jargon has it, since utilities do not consider the extra expense worthwhile.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When arguing for a "worthwhile expense", clearly articulate the benefits and return on investment to justify the cost. Provide concrete examples or data to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling an expense as "worthwhile" without providing a clear explanation of the value it provides. Back up your assertion with evidence to demonstrate the expense's tangible benefits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worthwhile expense" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "worthwhile" modifies the noun "expense". It describes an expenditure that is considered justified or valuable due to the benefits it provides. Ludwig AI confirms this usage pattern.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worthwhile expense" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon way to describe an expenditure that is justified by its benefits. Ludwig AI confirms this. It functions as a noun phrase, with the adjective "worthwhile" modifying "expense", and is used to persuade or justify a cost. While not overly formal, it's suitable for use in news, scientific, and business contexts. Alternative phrases like ""valuable expenditure"" or ""prudent investment"" may be preferred depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to always substantiate claims of worth with clear evidence of the expense's benefits.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

valuable expenditure

Replaces "worthwhile" with "valuable", emphasizing the benefit derived from the spending.

justifiable cost

Substitutes "worthwhile" with "justifiable", highlighting the reasonableness of the expense.

prudent investment

Changes "expense" to "investment" and "worthwhile" to "prudent", focusing on the long-term gains.

beneficial outlay

Replaces "expense" with "outlay" and "worthwhile" with "beneficial", underscoring the positive outcome of the expenditure.

sound financial commitment

Rephrases the expression to emphasize the financial responsibility and wisdom behind the expense.

fruitful disbursement

Changes "expense" to "disbursement" and "worthwhile" to "fruitful", suggesting the expense yields positive results.

advantageous expenditure

Replaces "worthwhile" with "advantageous", emphasizing the benefits and gains derived from the expense.

gainful expense

A more direct substitution emphasizing the profit or gain resulting from the expense.

smart spending

Simplifies the phrase to highlight the intelligence and strategic nature of the spending.

wise investment

Similar to "prudent investment" but slightly more informal, conveying a sense of good judgment.

FAQs

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

You can use "worthwhile expense" to describe a cost that is justified by the benefits it provides. For example: "Investing in employee training is a "worthwhile expense" that can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction".

What are some alternatives to "worthwhile expense"?

Alternatives to "worthwhile expense" include "valuable expenditure", "justifiable cost", or "prudent investment", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say an investment is a "worthwhile expense"?

Yes, it is correct. While "expense" often implies a cost, when paired with "worthwhile", it suggests the cost is justified by the benefits gained. Using ""prudent investment"" might be more conventional, but ""worthwhile expense"" is still acceptable.

What distinguishes "worthwhile expense" from a regular expense?

A ""worthwhile expense"" implies that the benefits derived from the expenditure outweigh the costs. It suggests that the money spent is a "sound financial commitment" and will ultimately prove beneficial.