has paid off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has paid off' is correct and usable in written English.
It means that the effort made has produced a successful outcome or result. For example: "My decision to invest in technology for the company has paid off - profits are up 30%!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has paid off.

Forbes

That has paid off.

The New York Times - Food

This has paid off.

The Economist

His bet has paid off.

The New Yorker

His gamble has paid off.

The Economist

Her dedication has paid off.

Independent

The thinking has paid off.

The New York Times

The dieting has paid off.

The Economist

Her persistence has paid off.

The New Yorker

And it has paid off.

The New York Times

And this has paid off.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has paid off" to clearly indicate that an investment, effort, or strategy has yielded a positive or beneficial result. For instance, "Investing in employee training has paid off with increased productivity."

Common error

Avoid using "has paid off" when referring to future or hypothetical outcomes. Instead, use "will pay off" or "would pay off" depending on the context. For example, instead of saying "This investment has paid off in the future," say "This investment will pay off in the future."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has paid off" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a prior effort, investment, or action has resulted in a positive or beneficial outcome. This is supported by Ludwig's AI which indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has paid off" is a versatile and common expression used to convey that a past action or investment has produced a positive outcome. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. As evidenced by the variety of examples, it is frequently used in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific discourse. When using "has paid off", ensure that the tense aligns with the context and that it accurately reflects the successful results of a prior endeavor. Related phrases like "has borne fruit" and "has been worthwhile" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has borne fruit

Emphasizes the positive results or benefits that have arisen from a particular action or endeavor.

has been worthwhile

Focuses on the value and benefits that resulted from something, suggesting the effort was justified.

has yielded results

Highlights that specific results, often positive, have been produced as a consequence.

has proven successful

Directly states the success of something, indicating a favorable or desired outcome.

has come to fruition

Emphasizes the realization and completion of a plan or effort, often implying a long process.

has been effective

Focuses on the functional aspect of achieving a specific goal or aim.

has delivered benefits

Highlights the advantages and positive consequences that have been provided.

has turned out well

Indicates a positive and favorable conclusion or outcome, often after a period of uncertainty.

has shown promise

Implies that something has demonstrated a potential for future success, based on current positive outcomes.

has achieved its purpose

Focuses on the attainment of a specific, intended goal, confirming the effectiveness of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "has paid off" in a sentence?

Use "has paid off" to indicate that an effort or investment has produced a positive result. For example, "All her hard work "has paid off", and she got accepted into her dream school."

What can I say instead of "has paid off"?

You can use alternatives like "has borne fruit", "has been worthwhile", or "has yielded results" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has paid off" or "paid off"?

"Has paid off" is the present perfect tense, indicating a completed action with relevance to the present, while "paid off" is the simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past. Use "has paid off" when the result is still relevant or ongoing.

What's the difference between "has paid off" and "will pay off"?

"Has paid off" indicates that something has already produced a positive result, whereas "will pay off" suggests a future benefit or outcome. For instance, "Her dedication "has paid off" because she is successful now," versus "Her dedication "will pay off" in the future."