are we paying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are we paying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about the payment status or responsibility in a situation, such as a group outing or shared expense. Example: "Before we finalize our plans for dinner, can we clarify, are we paying for our own meals or splitting the bill?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why are we paying for that?

The New York Times

@StateDept What the hell are we paying you for?

Independent

But what else are we paying government officials for?

The New Yorker

"Why are we paying their bills and funding their oppression?" the narrator, a woman, asks.

The New York Times

More important than who should pay is, what are we paying for?

The New York Times

When asked, "Why are we paying the Sept. 11 families?" Congress answered, "To save the airlines".

The New York Times - Magazine

Your job is to think about those workers who got laid off and how are we paying for their retraining.

The New York Times

Your job is to think about those workers who get laid off, and how are we paying for their retraining.

The Economist

For those who say, "How do we pay for this?" — well, how are we paying for three concurrent wars?

The New York Times

"What are we paying taxes for?" Mr. Moore, 28, lost his job in 2005, but quickly found work in Lake Bluff as a machinist.

The New York Times

Why are we paying someone to mislead us, stonewall us, and flack for the president–someone who basically runs an overglorified White House PR shop?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "are we paying" in formal writing, ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity. Specify what the payment is for to prevent confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "are we paying" when the "we" is unclear. Specify who "we" refers to—e.g., "Are we as taxpayers paying for this project?"—to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are we paying" functions as an interrogative clause, prompting information about payment responsibilities. It seeks to clarify who is responsible for covering a specific cost or expense. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are we paying" is a very common interrogative used to inquire about financial responsibility, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its grammatical status is correct, and it's primarily found in neutral contexts like news and media. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who "we" refers to and what payment is for. Alternatives include phrases like "is payment our responsibility?" and "who is responsible for payment?". Remember to check Ludwig's examples for real-world context and further insights.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is payment our responsibility

Rephrases as a direct question of responsibility instead of an implied one.

who is responsible for payment

Focuses on identifying the responsible party.

do we have to pay

Explores obligation or necessity to pay.

is the cost on us

Uses more casual language to inquire about who bears the expense.

should we be covering this cost

Implies a question of whether the payment is appropriate or expected.

what will we owe

Focuses on the amount owed and future obligation.

who foots the bill

Uses an idiom to ask about who will ultimately pay.

are we expected to cover the expenses

Specifically asks about expectations regarding expense coverage.

does the payment fall to us

Poses a question of financial burden using a formal structure.

are we liable for the charges

Addresses legal or contractual liability for the charges.

FAQs

How can I use "are we paying" in a sentence?

You can use "are we paying" to inquire about responsibility for a cost, as in, "Are we paying for the renovations, or is the landlord?"

What's a more formal way to ask "are we paying"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "Is our organization responsible for payment?" or "Are we liable for these charges?"

What can I say instead of "are we paying" when splitting a bill?

When splitting a bill, you might ask "are we splitting the bill?" or "are we going Dutch?"

What's the difference between "are we paying" and "should we pay"?

"Are we paying" asks about current responsibility, while "should we pay" questions the appropriateness or advisability of making a payment.