invoice

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'invoice' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to a document that lists the goods or services that were purchased, the cost of those goods and services, any taxes, and other charges. For example, "I will send you an invoice for the items purchased."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Janice Atkinson, who was running as a candidate in Folkestone and Hythe, will surely go after an aide claimed an invoice for £3,150 from a restaurant Margate.

The Guardian - Opinion

GNM shall issue an invoice and such invoice shall be payable within 30 days of the end of the month following the month in which the invoice is issued.

The Guardian

The Bangladeshi importer asks the Chinese exporter to invoice for $1 for every pair of spectacles, though the price agreed between the two is $10.

The Economist

Anonymous sent Booz Allen a mocking invoice for a "security audit" in the amount of $310.

The Economist

Some also ban using the word "invoice" in car ads, regarding it as potentially misleading.

The Economist

But the extra red tape would be costly and hard to justify in the face of a problem that, though clearly big, is unquantifiable.In the meantime, launderers who curb their greed and invoice goods worth $10 for $9, or $11, will probably continue to get away with it.

The Economist

Among OECD countries, less than a third of the 15-year-old test takers could correctly answer questions of the same difficulty level as the one above.While most students had no problem recognising the purpose of an invoice and performing rudimentary numerical operations, identifying a net salary which was put in the second-most difficult category of questions proved to be much tougher.

The Economist

But an invoice for that amount submitted by Robinson, marked "paid", was discovered by a government investigator in 1999.

The Economist

Some refuseniks threaten to withhold repayment; others hint at legal action.Of all the party leaders, Mr Brown may face the heftiest invoice.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"They can no longer think of it as some bank's problem, not theirs," says Caitlin Long of Morgan Stanley's corporate-strategies group.Another new form of invoice-based financing is the Receivables Exchange, an 18-month-old electronic market on which firms can sell invoices to institutional investors.

The Economist

Because then the trade figures would show superiors in Beijing that the local investigators had "solved" the problem of invoice-faking in Shenzhen.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to an "invoice", ensure all essential information such as date, itemized list of services/products, total amount due, and payment terms are clearly stated.

Common error

Avoid using "invoice" and receipt interchangeably. An invoice is a request for payment issued before payment is made, while a receipt serves as proof of payment.

Linguistic Context

The word "invoice" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a commercial document. It can also function as a verb, meaning to issue a bill. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

24%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

29%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "invoice" is a common and grammatically sound word in the English language, primarily functioning as a noun or verb related to billing and payment requests. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, from news and media to formal business settings. It's crucial to differentiate an "invoice" from a receipt—the former being a payment request, while the latter serves as proof of payment. When crafting invoices, clarity is paramount: ensure all essential details are explicitly stated. For those seeking alternative phrasing, options such as "bill of sale" or "payment request" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

payment request

A direct solicitation for payment of goods or services.

billing statement

Focuses on the act of requesting payment for services rendered.

itemized bill

Stresses the detailed breakdown of costs in a billing document.

bill of sale

Refers to a document that records the sale of goods or services; emphasizes the transactional aspect.

vendor bill

An invoice received from a vendor or supplier for goods or services.

statement of charges

Highlights the itemized costs associated with services or goods provided.

to send a bill

Verbal form of billing to be paid.

sales receipt

A proof of purchase, typically given immediately after a transaction.

account statement

A summary of all transactions and balances for a specific account.

charge ticket

A document indicating a specific charge, often used in service industries.

FAQs

How do I use "invoice" in a sentence?

You can use "invoice" in sentences like, "I will send you an invoice for the services provided" or "The invoice is due within 30 days".

What's the difference between an "invoice" and a "receipt"?

An "invoice" is a request for payment, issued before payment. A "receipt" is a proof of payment, issued after payment has been received.

What can I say instead of "invoice"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "bill of sale", "statement of charges", or "payment request".

Is it correct to say "itemize invoice"?

While "itemize invoice" is understandable, a more common phrasing is "itemized invoice" or "detailed invoice", which emphasizes that the invoice provides a breakdown of individual charges.