debts to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "debts to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to obligations or amounts owed to someone or something. Example: "He has many debts to various creditors that he needs to settle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You won't have any debts to pay.' ".

The New York Times

Debts to suppliers and utilities mounted.

The New York Times

Because we'll still have massive debts to pay back.

The Guardian

The church owes debts to around 550 creditors.

The New York Times

A resolution of debts to this country was also explored.

The New Yorker

This is to help reduce debts to below $10bn.

Independent

Cotton farmers often assume huge debts to stay in business.

The New York Times

Vivendi took on huge debts to finance his ambitions.

The Economist

He felt that he had debts to redeem in America.

The New Yorker

It has not reduced debts to manageable levels.

The New York Times

In all likelihood, Turkey is amassing large debts to SOCAR.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial matters, use "debts to" to clearly indicate who or what is owed money. For example, "The company has significant "debts to" its suppliers".

Common error

Avoid using "debts to" when you mean general obligations or responsibilities. "Debts to" specifically refers to financial or material obligations. If you mean a non-financial obligation use "obligations to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "debts to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a relationship of owing or liability. It specifies to whom or what the debt is owed. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "debts to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express financial or material obligations. As Ludwig AI states, it's usable in written English. It's important to use this phrase when specifically referring to what is owed and to whom. While alternatives like "financial obligations to" or "amounts owed to" exist, "debts to" is a concise and widely understood option, particularly in news and media contexts. Remember to differentiate between financial obligations ("debts to") and general responsibilities ("obligations to") for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amounts owed to

Uses a more direct and literal way to express the concept of owing.

owing payments to

Specifies that the debt involves payments.

financial obligations to

Replaces "debts" with a more explicit term for financial liabilities.

indebtedness to

A more formal way of expressing owing something, often used in academic or literary contexts.

liabilities to

Emphasizes the legal aspect of owing something.

unpaid bills to

Focuses on the outstanding invoices that constitute the debt.

obligations towards

Shifts the focus from a financial debt to a general duty or responsibility.

outstanding dues to

Refers to payments that are currently overdue.

arrears to

Highlights the state of being behind on payments.

responsibilities to

Broadens the concept to include non-financial obligations.

FAQs

How can I use "debts to" in a sentence?

"Debts to" is used to indicate financial or material obligations owed to someone or something. For example: "The company has significant "financial obligations to" various creditors".

What are some alternatives to using "debts to"?

Alternatives include "amounts owed to", "financial obligations to", or "liabilities to", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "debts to" instead of "obligations to"?

"Debts to" is appropriate when referring to specific financial or material obligations. Use "obligations to" for broader duties or responsibilities.

What's the difference between owing "debts to" someone and having "responsibilities to" them?

Owing "debts to" someone implies a financial or material obligation that needs to be repaid. Having "responsibilities to" someone implies a broader set of duties or moral imperatives that one must fulfill.