about to pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to pay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone is on the verge of making a payment or transaction. Example: "I am about to pay for my groceries at the checkout."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His patience is about to pay off handsomely.

The New York Times

We don't need the kind of costly fix these poor folks are about to pay for.

The New York Times - Sports

"Hopefully, it's about to pay off".

The New York Times - Sports

"Hopefully, the persistence is now about to pay off".

The New York Times - Sports

Now, he was about to pay the ultimate price.

The New York Times

It appeared that I was about to pay for my winter of sloth.

The New York Times - Travel

"I'm about to pay the price for something I haven't done," he said.

The New York Times

A man is about to pay a visit that he expects to be dull.

The New Yorker

Is that strategy about to pay off with the Federal Reserve?

The New York Times

Jack L. Kelly of Goldman , Sachs thinks that the company's investment is about to pay off.

The New York Times

No question, New Yorkers pay a lot in taxes and are about to pay more.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to pay" to clearly indicate that an action of payment is imminent. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for various writing scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "about to pay" when the payment is not truly imminent. If the payment is planned for the future but not happening right now, use phrases like "will pay" or "intends to pay" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to pay" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action that is imminent or on the verge of happening. It combines the auxiliary verb "be" (in the form "about") with the infinitive "to pay", creating a sense of immediate future action. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about to pay" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that an action of payment is imminent. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, lending itself well to both formal and informal settings, particularly in News & Media. When writing, ensure the context reflects true immediacy to avoid misuse. While many alternatives exist, such as "on the verge of paying", it's crucial to select the phrase that best captures the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just about to pay

Adds "just" for emphasis, highlighting the immediacy of the payment.

on the verge of paying

Replaces "about to" with "on the verge of", emphasizing the closeness to the action of paying.

on the point of paying

Similar to "on the verge of", indicating that the moment of payment is very near.

preparing to pay

Highlights the preparatory actions before the actual payment.

ready to settle

Focuses on the completion of the payment, implying readiness to finalize the transaction.

set to pay

Emphasizes the planned or scheduled nature of the payment.

going to pay

A more general way of expressing future intention, but in this context, suggests immediate action.

due to pay

Highlights the obligation or scheduled nature of the payment.

intending to pay shortly

More formal, indicating a plan to pay very soon.

on course to pay

Suggests that the payment is part of a planned process or sequence of events.

FAQs

How can I use "about to pay" in a sentence?

You can use "about to pay" to indicate that someone is on the verge of making a payment, such as "I'm "about to pay" for these groceries" or "The company is "about to pay" its debts".

What are some alternatives to "about to pay"?

Some alternatives include "on the verge of paying", "ready to settle", or "just about to pay". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "about to pay" formal or informal?

"About to pay" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its suitability depends more on the surrounding language and situation than the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "about to pay" and "going to pay"?

"About to pay" suggests a more immediate action than "going to pay". While "going to pay" implies a future intention, "about to pay" indicates that the payment is happening very soon, if not immediately.