it would owe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it would owe" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where something is due or required, often in a hypothetical context. Example: "If the project is successful, it would owe much of its success to the team's hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

If the fund did sell its MLP it would owe income tax on the $1 gain, and at the usual corporate rate, since corporations get no break on long-term capital gains.

Forbes

The rules require a firm to put aside the amount it would owe if its customers' accounts were liquidated.

The New York Times

According to an official release, the company agreed to pay a $4 billion pre-tax charge on its fourth quarter balance sheet, which is the exact amount it would owe to affected parties should the deal fall through.

TechCrunch

Raytheon said it did not believe that it would owe a refund.

The New York Times

If the board were to end the contract, it would owe Mr. Levy up to a year's salary.

The New York Times

Glaxo estimated that it would owe the I.R.S. $2.5 billion in interest if the original claim is successful.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Depending on how many years I want to play, I feel like when I'm done, I would owe it to my family to not travel as much".

Los Angeles Times

Under it, Mr. Zuckerberg would owe an additional $3.45 billion when Facebook went public (that's 15 percent of the value of the roughly $23 billion of stock he owns).

The New York Times

If Mr. Trump was forced to pay the $40 million, he would be unlikely to permanently lose it, since his company would owe it to him.

The New York Times

Long before then, Ms. Jacobs would have to accept the prize and, with it, taxes she would owe, estimated at $2,500.

The New York Times

So a couple that bought a house for $100,000 and sold it for $599,000 would owe no tax, even under the health law.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it would owe", ensure the context clearly establishes the condition or situation under which the obligation arises. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they would owe" when "it" is intended as the singular subject. Ensure the pronoun agrees in number with the entity incurring the obligation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it would owe" functions primarily as a conditional verb phrase, indicating a hypothetical obligation or debt. The auxiliary verb 'would' establishes the conditional nature, while 'owe' signifies the act of being in debt. As shown in Ludwig, this often appears in contexts discussing potential financial or contractual responsibilities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it would owe" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a conditional obligation or debt. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most frequently found in news and media sources, often discussing potential financial or contractual responsibilities. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the conditions under which the obligation arises. Alternatives like "it would be liable for" or "it would be required to pay" can offer subtle shifts in meaning. Remember to maintain subject-verb agreement and avoid confusing this phrase with "it would be owed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it would be liable for

Replaces "owe" with "liable", indicating a legal or financial responsibility.

it would be required to pay

Emphasizes the requirement to make a payment, instead of simply owing.

it would be indebted to

Shifts the focus to a state of indebtedness, implying a moral or social obligation.

it would have to remit

Uses "remit" to specify the act of sending money as payment.

it would incur a debt of

Focuses on the act of accumulating debt, rather than the state of owing.

it would be responsible for

Highlights the responsibility for covering a certain amount.

it would be bound to pay

Indicates a contractual or legal obligation to pay.

it would have an obligation to

Stresses the presence of a duty or commitment.

it would face a bill of

Presents the amount as a bill that needs to be settled.

it would be subject to a fee of

Suggests that the amount is a penalty or charge.

FAQs

How can I use "it would owe" in a sentence?

Use "it would owe" to express a conditional obligation, such as "If the company loses the lawsuit, "it would owe" $1.7 million in back taxes".

What are some alternatives to "it would owe"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it would be liable for", "it would be required to pay", or "it would be indebted to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it will owe" instead of "it would owe"?

While both are grammatically correct, "it will owe" expresses a future certainty, whereas "it would owe" describes a conditional or hypothetical future obligation.

What's the difference between "it would owe" and "it would be owed"?

"It would owe" means that the subject has an obligation to pay something. "It would be owed" means that the subject is entitled to receive something from someone else.