at a fee

USAGE SUMMARY

"at a fee" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something comes with a cost or is subject to a fee. For example, "The library offers printing services at a fee of 15 cents per page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Academic research is a process – a process which universities teach (at a fee).

The Guardian

The service will be offered at a fee of $1,995.

The Guardian - Tech

He spoke again to the firm in 2010 at a fee of $75,000.

The Washington Post

Mrs. Deveraux's house was open for visitors, at a fee, proceeds were to go to the United Service Organizations.

The New Yorker

Forty-eight hours later, as promised, the mattress arrived (at a fee of $50, though some stores offer free delivery).

The New York Times

Like the galleries in the center, these had to compete to participate, at a fee of $5,000.

The New York Times - Arts

You could have anything you wanted – at a fee of $185,000 (and that is just a proposal fee).

The Guardian - Tech

The drawback is that it will only send up to £6,999 at a time, at a fee of £180.

The Guardian - Money

Google's own YouTube channel has begun offering its paying customers an ad-free version – at a fee, of course.

The Guardian - Opinion

At a fee of 50 cents a week, Mrs. Temple enrolled 3-year-old Shirley in Mrs. Meglin's Dance Studio.

The New York Times - Arts

The present one is open for public use, at a fee, and those who have used it are Arthur Godfrey and the N.Y.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the amount of the fee, follow "at a fee" with "of" and the amount: "The service is offered at a fee of $50."

Common error

Avoid using "at a fee" when the payment is not direct or clear. For example, it's incorrect to say "They benefited at a fee" when the benefit doesn't directly involve a payment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a fee" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating that something is provided or offered for a specific payment. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is both correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at a fee" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that a service or product is available for a specific payment. As Ludwig AI underlines, its primary function is to inform that there is a cost, setting financial expectations for various transactions. Found most frequently in news and media, science, and formal business contexts, its usage spans a range of formality levels from neutral to professional. When using this phrase, it's best to specify the exact amount of the fee using "of" followed by the sum. Alternatives such as "for a charge" or "requiring payment" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a charge

Replaces "fee" with "charge", emphasizing the cost associated with something.

subject to a charge

More formal, highlighting that a charge is applicable.

for a payment

Replaces "fee" with "payment", a broader term for money given in return for something.

with a surcharge

Indicates an additional fee on top of the original price.

requiring payment

Focuses on the necessity of payment to access something.

for a price

Uses "price" instead of "fee", suggesting a market value.

on a paid basis

Emphasizes that something is not free and requires payment.

for remuneration

A more formal term suggesting compensation for services.

against compensation

Indicates that services are provided against the background of expected payment.

with costs attached

More general term emphasizing there are costs involed.

FAQs

How can I use "at a fee" in a sentence?

Use "at a fee" to indicate that a service or product is available for a specific payment. For example, "The consultant offers legal advice "at a fee" of $200 per hour".

What alternatives can I use instead of "at a fee"?

You can use alternatives such as "for a charge", "subject to a charge", or "requiring payment" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "for free" or "at no fee"?

Yes, "for free" and "at no fee" are both correct and indicate that there is no cost associated with a service or product. They are the opposite of ""at a fee"".

What's the difference between "at a fee" and "for a cost"?

"At a fee" specifically suggests a set price for a service, while "for a cost" is more general and can refer to any kind of expense, not necessarily a direct payment.