cannot afford to pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot afford to pay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an inability to make a payment due to financial constraints. Example: "I would love to join the gym, but unfortunately, I cannot afford to pay the membership fee right now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Also, my family cannot afford to pay for them.

The New York Times

What if the city cannot afford to pay its bills?

The Guardian - Opinion

But the district still cannot afford to pay its bills.

The Economist

But she cannot afford to pay for it.

The New York Times

The local authorities have said they cannot afford to pay.

The Guardian

As many as 70% of country people cannot afford to pay for medical treatment.

The Economist

But farmers say they are losing money and cannot afford to pay more.

The Economist

Greedy landlords are fully aware that most cannot afford to pay their extortionate rents.

Independent

Put it simply, the people of this state simply cannot afford to pay more taxes, period".

The New York Times

"The Public" will shortly close: the council cannot afford to pay for its upkeep.

The Economist

Emmis cannot afford to pay a dividend, nor can it afford to redeem the preferred stock.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot afford to pay", ensure the context clearly establishes what specific cost or obligation is unaffordable. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid overgeneralizing when stating someone "cannot afford to pay". Specify the exact item or service that is unaffordable rather than making broad, unsupported claims about their overall financial status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot afford to pay" functions as a declarative statement indicating an inability to meet a financial obligation due to a lack of sufficient funds. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is perfectly correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot afford to pay" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a lack of financial means to cover a specific cost. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad usability. It's versatile across various contexts, particularly prevalent in news, scientific, and business domains. When employing this phrase, specifying the unaffordable item enhances clarity. Alternatives such as "unable to pay" or "lack the funds to pay" can offer nuanced expression. Overall, this phrase serves as a clear indicator of financial constraint.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to pay

Direct synonym, emphasizing the inability to make a payment.

cannot manage the payment

Focuses on the difficulty in handling the financial obligation.

lack the funds to pay

Highlights the absence of necessary financial resources.

short of funds for payment

Indicates a deficiency in the required amount for payment.

cannot meet the payment

Emphasizes the failure to fulfill the payment obligation.

in no position to pay

Highlights the unfavorable financial situation preventing payment.

struggle to pay

Focuses on the difficulty and effort involved in attempting to make a payment.

find it hard to pay

Implies a challenge or difficulty in making a payment.

strapped for cash to pay

Suggests a temporary shortage of money affecting payment ability.

beyond one's financial means

Emphasizes that the cost exceeds the available financial resources.

FAQs

What does "cannot afford to pay" mean?

The phrase "cannot afford to pay" means someone does not have enough money to cover the cost of something. It implies a financial limitation or constraint preventing a payment from being made.

What can I say instead of "cannot afford to pay"?

You can use alternatives like "unable to pay", "lack the funds to pay", or "cannot manage the payment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "can't afford to pay"?

Yes, "can't afford to pay" is a contraction of "cannot afford to pay" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. It carries the same meaning as the full form.

What is the difference between "cannot afford to pay" and "choose not to pay"?

"Cannot afford to pay" indicates a genuine lack of financial resources, while "choose not to pay" implies a deliberate decision to withhold payment, even if the means are available. The first is about ability, the second is about willingness.