hi native speakers! please answer

[Tide]

When do youy use <costly> instead of <ekspensive>?( sorry my key board didn't write the letter iks !)

[Ouisch]

I'm a native speaker in the US, and really the only time I'd use "costly" is perhaps in writing (not speaking), and only in non-finanacial terms (i.e. "The war in Iraq is proving costly in human lives.") When speaking of something that costs a lot of money, I always refer to it as "expensive."

[Saxonlight]

The two are pretty close.

I would say expensive would tend to be more associated with money. Costly can be about money too but like Ouisch said is good for non-money related cost too.

It depends on the context and the persons vocabulary I think. Costly is much more uncommon in everyday life.

Money

"That Rolex watch is a bit too expensive for me." WORKS WELL
"That Rolex watch is a bit costly for me." WORKS

Non-money

"The army attack was expensive in terms of lives lost." WORKS
"The army attack was costly in terms of lives lost." WORKS WELL

[RonBee]

I agree with the others. The word costly is more likely to be used where the implications are not necessarily monetary. Example:

A supervisor's mistakes are costlier that those of a regular employee.

Sincerely,

RonBee

[Fazzu]

Sir Ronbee,

Isn't that "A supervisor's mistakes are costlier than those of a regular employee"?

Sorry to bother,I'm a girl who likes to ask many questions especially on the usage of English.

[Tdol]

Yes, it's a typo and should be 'than'.

[Tide]

I'm a native speaker in the US, and really the only time I'd use "costly" is perhaps in writing (not speaking), and only in non-finanacial terms (i.e. "The war in Iraq is proving costly in human lives.") When speaking of something that costs a lot of money, I always refer to it as "expensive."

Thanks everybody especialy the American native!

[Fazzu]

Thanks Tdol.I thought some grammar rules were behind it.

[Tide]

When do youy use <costly> instead of <ekspensive>?( sorry my key board didn't write the letter iks !)

By the way! When do you use ekcessive?(Remember that my keyboard doesnt write the letter iks!)

[Tdol]

Whenever something passes a limit, it can be described as excessive, whether it's a vehicle's speed or the heat.