incur a fee

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incur a fee" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to being required to pay a fee or charge for a certain service or action. For example: If you exceed your monthly credit card limit, you will incur a fee.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

These also require a petition and incur a fee.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This means that credit card payments will now incur a fee of at least £13.95.

The Guardian - Money

If you can't find the right machine, get cashback while you're out shopping, as it doesn't incur a fee.

The Guardian - Money

When studying this unit, the student will incur a fee (currently $33) for access to the cloud-based accounting software.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Fair warning: deleting your Link will incur a fee based on all charges accrued while your accounts were in the Link together.

The New Yorker

Carry your beach gear in a tote big enough to include the resort-issue beach towel — though you may incur a fee if you don't return it.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

That incurred a fee with certain Merrill investors, forcing the firm to pay them $4.6 billion.

The New York Times

Non-research use of REDCap incurs a fee of $500 per year per database, which is charged by the CTSC.

Cornell University

This does not just mean incurring a fee; carrying large amounts of cash also increases the risk and harm of theft.

The Economist

Unlike Venmo or Square, PayPal offers no way to use a debit card to send people money without incurring a fee.

MIT Technology Review

An espresso machine and free-for-all snack bar — glass jars filled with almonds, cookies and M&Ms, plus mineral water, sodas and beer in the refrigerator — make it all feel homier than a hotel (only the wine incurs a fee).

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about potential charges, use "incur a fee" to clearly indicate that a specific action or situation will result in a payment obligation. For instance, "Late payments will incur a fee" leaves no room for ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "incur a fee" when the fee is already pre-existing and not directly caused by an action. Instead of saying "Having an account incurs a fee", which implies opening the account causes the fee, clarify with "Maintaining the account incurs a monthly fee".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incur a fee" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone becomes liable for a payment. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct. Examples show it used in various contexts, such as academic registration changes or airline charges.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incur a fee" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to describe becoming liable for a payment or charge. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and used across various contexts, including academic, news, and formal business settings. It is essential to use "incur a fee" accurately, ensuring the context implies a direct action leads to the charge, rather than the fee existing independently. Related alternatives include "be subject to a fee" or "become liable for a fee", each offering slightly different nuances. While "incur a fee" is suitable for neutral and professional registers, avoid using it in overly informal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be subject to a fee

Focuses on the state of being subjected to a fee, rather than the action of incurring it.

become liable for a fee

Emphasizes the legal responsibility to pay a fee.

be charged a fee

Highlights the action of having a fee applied.

owe a fee

Implies a debt or obligation to pay a fee.

trigger a fee

Indicates that an action causes a fee to be applied.

be assessed a fee

Suggests a formal evaluation leading to the imposition of a fee.

become responsible for a fee

Highlights the responsibility of paying the fee.

suffer a fee

Implies an unwanted or negative experience of having to pay a fee.

generate a fee

Focuses on the creation or generation of the fee itself.

bring about a fee

Indicates that an action leads to a fee.

FAQs

How can I use "incur a fee" in a sentence?

You can use "incur a fee" to indicate that a certain action will result in a charge. For example, "If you withdraw money from an out-of-network ATM, you will "incur a fee"."

What is a more formal alternative to "incur a fee"?

A more formal alternative to "incur a fee" is "be subject to a fee" or "become liable for a fee", which are often used in legal or contractual contexts.

Is it correct to say "avoid incurring a fee"?

Yes, it is correct to say "avoid incurring a fee". It means to take action to prevent a fee from being charged. For example, "To avoid incurring a late fee, please pay your bill on time."

What's the difference between "incur a fee" and "pay a fee"?

"Incur a fee" means to become liable for a fee, while "pay a fee" means to actually remit the payment. You "incur a fee" when the charge is assessed, and you "pay a fee" when you settle the debt.