Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 324. The title of today's lesson
is the difference between costly and expensive. Yeah. This is another one that
sometimes comes up. Students may say well, what's the difference between costly and
expensive ? Because they both seem to refer to a high price. So let's take a
look at the note. So we can distinguish about them. All right. Let's look at the
definition of expensive first. Expensive is a high price, especially more than you
think it's worth or a price that is considerably above the average price of
something of this particular quality or this particular standard. So you've
probably seen it cheaper other places and for that reason your opinion
considers this one to be more expensive. So you don't think it's worth it because
maybe other places may sell it at a lower price. So therefore you think it is
expensive. Let's continue here. We tend to use expensive for everyday items,
services, etc. that we commonly buy. Yeah. So , so as opposed to when we get to the
word costly. Costly if when we use it in regard to being a high price, it usually
is for things that are almost always a high price. So that there's a difference
right there. All right. Let's continue. Look at the note here. Costly has a couple of
uses and meanings. All right. So this is another one of costly meanings. First it
is used for something that includes loss or something you must give up. Now this
is one where it's different from expensive. So in this case you'll
probably only use costly and not expensive. So let's give an example here.
That was a costly mistake, meaning this mistake probably ended up making you
lose money or you lost something else that was probably important to you . Maybe,
maybe a guy he maybe cheated on his wife and maybe it ended up
costing him his marriage. So it was a costly mistake. So sometimes it's not
always specifically even in money but you didn't lose something. You lost
something that was important. In this case you could use costly or the second
one here. It turned out to be a costly tweet. Ye.
We've seen this happen to several famous people now. The company fired her over
what she said. So maybe she said something in the tweet that you know,
caused a controversy or some some sort of statement. That a lot of people didn't
like and maybe she ended up losing her job over this. So she didn't, she didn't
specifically pay money for this. She wasn't buying it but it did indeed cause
a loss. She lost her job. Okay. Or he lost her job or he lost his job. Either way.
All right. Now let's let's continue here. The second meaning of costly is more
similar to expensive. It does mean something costs a lot. So here's where
there could be a little more confusion, but it is not necessarily overpriced. Just like I said before. We tend to use things for costly that always cost a lot
of money or more than fair value. It may actually be fair value for what it is,
but you think that you know, when you're saying it's costly it's a high price
probably more than you can afford to pay. Probably, so it usually implies that it
is a high price because of the quality or rarity of some things. So in this
sense you might think that you know, well it's the high price but you know just
that's just the way it is with this particular item or service. Okay. Let's
continue. All right. So we give one example in this you know, precious stones,
You know things like diamonds or rubies or sapphires. Precious stones are
beautiful but unfortunately, they are also costly. Costly in this sense meaning
yeah the price is just too high. They are far beyond my budget. So it's , it's not
like you you think this , this particular one that's being sold here ...maybe some
somewhere else it's cheaper. You just think it's it's always too expensive
when you're saying it this way.Okay could there be a possibility where you
think both. Where you think that , that it's higher than the normal price and
that it is high. Yeah. So there is a little crossover sometimes. But here again. The
focus is on that. It's just always a high price and then maybe you know, because of
that. It makes it hard for you to be willing to spend your money on that. All
right. Let's continue. All right. Now here is where a student could make a mistake here.
If they said it is too costly to have your wedding in Hawaii. All right well
maybe you know somebody has this dream but you know they're not thinking about
it you know, like if you invite all the other guests. All the other guests, they
might not be willing to spend money to go to Hawaii . It may cost them a real lot. So in
this case, you should just simply say it is too expensive to have your wedding in
Hawaii. Yeah. It would just cost too much money. Okay. Let's look at the next one
here. That item costs double the price at this store. It is too costly. No. You know,
with the X again that's wrong. So with the check. You should say it's too
expensive. This is good. This is again probably just an everyday item. A common
item and you just think that this store is overpriced their prices are too high
you can get it somewhere else. In that case you should just be using expensive
and not costly. Okay and I guess we have a last example down here. If you make the
price too costly for customers you know, this is probably a business talking. To
costly for customers. They will be unwilling to to pay it or to pay the
price. So in this case you should say if you make the price too expensive. Yes in
this sense. So if you make the price too high. it's above. Yes. Basically.
That they can't afford to pay that. So in that sense you should probably use
expensive here and not costly. Yeah. Again you're just probably talking about a
common item maybe other people who get similar types of items maybe not the
same exact one, but when you're looking at this quality and you know the
workmanship of this item, it probably doesn't deserve that higher price. So
therefore you should use that it's too expensive. Okay. Anyone I hope you got it.
I hope now you got a better understanding of when you should use
costly and when you should use expensive. Okay I hope it was informative. Thank you
for your time. Bye-bye.