Inclusive Of: Standard Pattern
Inclusive Of: Standard Pattern records the directly documented Cambridge construction and keeps the guidance bounded to the evidenced complement pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.
Cambridge documents “inclusive of” when a price, amount, or set includes the item or items that follow.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| price, amount, or set contains the following item | inclusive of + noun | Use “inclusive of.” |
| price or amount excludes the item | exclusive of / not including | Use wording that explicitly marks exclusion. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does the stated total or set already contain the item that follows?
If yes: Use “inclusive of.”
If no: If the item is not included, use “exclusive of,” “excluding,” or another explicit exclusion phrase.
Caveat: “Inclusive of” should make inclusion clearer, not obscure what the total covers; name the included item precisely.
Examples
The fee is inclusive of taxes.
Taxes are included in the stated fee.
The package costs $80, inclusive of delivery.
Delivery is part of the stated amount.
The dates are inclusive of both endpoints.
Both endpoints belong to the stated range.
Further guidance
Construction
Cambridge documents “inclusive of” when a price, amount, or set contains the stated item or items.
Style Boundary
The separate after-noun use meaning that stated endpoints are included does not require an of-complement.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- inclusive — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge dictionary evidence for the construction inclusive of something.