forget to pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forget to pay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of failing to make a payment or neglecting to settle a bill. Example: "I completely forgot to pay the electricity bill this month, and now I have to deal with a late fee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Don't forget to pay that debt".

The New Yorker

Also not to forget to pay their dance subscription.

The New Yorker

Don't forget to pay attention to growing conditions.

The New York Times

"Don't forget to pay the cashier on your way down".

The New Yorker

Don't forget to pay the copy editor, or future columns will omit headlines.

The New York Times

First, utility bills become buried under snowdrifts of paper, so people forget to pay them.

The New York Times - Health

If you still forget to pay you will get a warning before you are fined.

The Guardian - Money

Mick used to borrow money and forget to pay it back.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"We'll 'forget' to pay you for this work, probably".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We 'forget' to pay our bills or file our taxes until the last minute".

The New York Times

0.25 0.72 22 Forget to pay/renew your statutory insurance and discover that you are driving illegally.

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid penalties, set up automatic payments for recurring bills to prevent accidentally "forgetting to pay".

Common error

Don't use "forget to pay" when you actually mean "refuse to pay". Forgetting implies an unintentional oversight, while refusing implies a deliberate decision not to pay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forget to pay" functions as a verb phrase indicating a failure or omission in fulfilling a payment obligation. Ludwig examples show its common usage across various contexts, confirming its straightforward grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

35%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "forget to pay" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the unintentional failure to make a payment. Ludwig's analysis, supported by numerous examples from diverse sources, indicates its wide applicability across news, wiki, and scientific contexts. While synonyms like "neglect to pay" or "fail to pay" exist, it's crucial to distinguish "forgetting" from intentional refusal. Setting up automated payments is a practical way to avoid "forgetting to pay" and the associated penalties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglect to pay

Similar in meaning, but implies a degree of negligence or carelessness.

fail to pay

A more direct and neutral way of stating the lack of payment.

omit payment

Highlights the act of leaving out the payment.

overlook payment

Implies that the payment was missed unintentionally.

default on payment

Suggests a more serious failure to pay, often with contractual implications.

miss the payment deadline

Focuses on the timing aspect of the missed payment.

be delinquent on payment

Implies a state of being behind on payments.

skip paying

A more casual way of saying "not pay".

avoid paying

Suggests a deliberate attempt to not pay.

not settle the bill

Refers specifically to not taking care of an invoice.

FAQs

What's the difference between "forget to pay" and "refuse to pay"?

"Forget to pay" implies an unintentional oversight, while "refuse to pay" indicates a deliberate decision not to settle a financial obligation. One is accidental, the other is intentional.

How can I avoid "forgetting to pay" my bills?

Set up automatic payments or reminders to ensure you don't "neglect to pay" your bills. Regularly review your accounts to identify any missed payments.

What are some alternatives to saying "forget to pay"?

You can use alternatives like "fail to pay", "omit payment", or "overlook payment" depending on the context.

What happens if I "forget to pay" a bill?

You might incur late fees, a negative impact on your credit score, or even suspension of services. Contact the creditor immediately to resolve the issue.