by installments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by installments" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a payment plan that consists of making regular payments over a period of time. For example, "We offer our customers the option to make payments for their purchase by installments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Amortization: The gradual repayment of a mortgage by installments, calculated to pay off the principal at the end of a fixed period of time.

The New York Times

Bill would be sent following month, payments could be made by installments two dollars one day, and three sometime when you felt like it.

The New Yorker

The contrast is that between instantaneous death and death by installments -- caused by electric shocks administered after one or more intervening periods of complete consciousness of the victim.

Cornell University

The first, devoted to Shakespeare and the connections between classical and modern theater, was to be followed by installments on theater in Ireland and the United States.

The New York Times

Ms. Hogan's lawyer, Stephen Flamhaft, made a counteroffer to the court on Monday calling for a $30,000 down payment followed by installments that would have had her pay the balance in three years.

The New York Times

There is also a distinction between the latter case and one where an absolute debt is created at once, as by the issue of railway bonds, or for the erection of a public improvement, though such debt be payable in the future by installments.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The failure of Mr. King's electronic novel-by-installment should be taken as a healthy sign that real books and real readers will always be with us.

The New York Times

Thanks to the pay-by-installment plan popularized by I.M. Singer, many had access to a treadle machine that quickly finished essential sewing, leaving time for more leisurely pursuits like embroidery and quilting.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The bank's loan business is dominated by installment loans.

The New York Times

Serial books are also in the offing and will be priced by installment.

The New York Times

In the Netherlands, by contrast, Mr. Greene said the Amsterdam school had not seen any increase in families paying fees by installment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial arrangements, use "by installments" to clearly indicate that payments are made over time, distinguishing it from a lump-sum payment.

Common error

Avoid using "in installments" when describing a payment plan. "By installments" correctly signifies that the payment is structured into multiple parts, whereas "in installments" is less common and can be ambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by installments" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to describe how something is paid or delivered. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates a payment plan with regular payments over time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by installments" serves as an adverbial phrase, detailing how something is paid or delivered over a period, rather than at once. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability for describing payment plans. While versatile, it appears most frequently in news and media, academic and scientific contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. Though commonly mistaken with the construction "in installments", is better to use the term "by installments". While alternatives like "in periodic payments" or "through a payment plan" exist, "by installments" offers a direct and widely understood method for specifying a payment arrangement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in periodic payments

Emphasizes the regularity of the payments.

in stages

Highlights the phased approach of delivery or payment.

in partial payments

Focuses on the incomplete nature of each payment.

through a payment plan

Highlights the structure of agreed payments.

on a payment schedule

Similar to 'payment plan', but emphasizes the timing.

in a series of payments

More descriptive, specifying a sequence of payments.

over a period

Focuses on the length of time during which payments or deliveries occur.

in portions

Emphasizes that something is divided in chunks.

gradual payments

Refers to increasing or decreasing of payments.

deferred payments

Payments are scheduled for a future date.

FAQs

How can I use "by installments" in a sentence?

You can use "by installments" to describe a payment method where the total cost is divided into smaller, regular payments, like: "The car was purchased "by installments" over a three-year period."

What are some alternatives to saying "by installments"?

Alternatives include "in periodic payments", "through a payment plan", or "in partial payments", depending on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

Is it correct to say "pay in installments" or "pay by installments"?

"Pay "by installments"" is more common and typically refers to the payment arrangement itself. "Pay in installments" is also acceptable, but "by" better specifies the method of payment.

What is the difference between paying "by installments" and paying "in full"?

Paying "by installments" means dividing the total amount into smaller, regular payments over time, while paying "in full" means paying the entire amount at once.