it would pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it would pay" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something would be beneficial or advantageous to do. For example: - "If you invest in this company now, it would pay off in the long run." - "It would pay to study for the exam instead of going out with friends." - "I think it would pay to get a second opinion from a different doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only its length — it would pay him through age 40 — seemed excessive.

The New York Times - Sports

Building on the results, easyJet said it would pay its first-ever dividend in 2012.

Independent

Facebook recently announced that it would pay for its female employees to freeze their eggs.

The New Yorker

And Chrysler recently said it would pay back its government loans by 2014.

The New York Times

Unite said it would pay legal fees for its members.

The Guardian - Money

In its preliminary proposal, Blackstone suggested that it would pay over $14.25 a share for Dell.

The New York Times

Last week, Citigroup said it would pay $2.0 billion to settle its part in the suit.

The Economist

It would pay $30.

The New York Times - Tech

It would pay dividends.

The New York Times - Sports

It would pay dividends immediately.

The Guardian - Sport

The government announced that it would pay for repairs.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it would pay", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific benefit or advantage will be gained. Providing clear details strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it would pay" without specifying the concrete benefit. For example, instead of saying "Investing in renewable energy would pay", specify the benefit: "Investing in renewable energy would pay off by reducing our carbon footprint and lowering energy costs in the long run".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it would pay" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express a conditional or potential future benefit. As evidenced by the Ludwig AI examples, it suggests that a certain action or decision is likely to result in a positive outcome or advantage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it would pay" is a versatile and commonly used expression to suggest that a particular action or decision is likely to be beneficial or advantageous in the future. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including news, academia, and business. When using "it would pay", be sure to clearly specify the expected benefit to maximize the impact of your statement. The most common sources using the phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, The Economist, BBC and Forbes, demonstrating its prevalence in authoritative and reliable content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it will be beneficial

Focuses on the future benefit, similar to the original phrase but uses "will" for a more definitive future.

it will be advantageous

Highlights the advantageous nature of the action, emphasizing the positive outcome.

it would be worthwhile

Emphasizes the value and worth of the action, suggesting the benefits outweigh the effort.

it will prove fruitful

Indicates that the action will yield positive results, focusing on the outcome.

it would be profitable

Stresses the profitable aspect, suggesting a financial or material gain.

it is a good investment

Frames the action as an investment, implying future returns or benefits.

it offers a good return

Highlights the return on investment, emphasizing the positive outcome.

it is a wise decision

Focuses on the prudence and wisdom of the choice, suggesting a favorable outcome.

it will generate benefits

Emphasizes the creation of benefits, highlighting the positive results.

it promises dividends

Uses the term "dividends" to suggest a rewarding outcome or return on effort.

FAQs

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

Use "it would pay" to suggest that a particular action or decision will be beneficial or advantageous in the future. For instance, "It would pay to invest in employee training to improve productivity".

What are some alternatives to saying "it would pay"?

You can use alternatives like "it will be beneficial", "it would be worthwhile", or "it will prove fruitful" depending on the context.

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

Both "it will pay" and "it would pay" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "It will pay" suggests a higher degree of certainty about the future benefit, while "it would pay" expresses a conditional or hypothetical benefit.

What is the difference between "it pays" and "it would pay"?

"It pays" is used to indicate a present or general benefit, while "it would pay" indicates a future or conditional benefit. For example, "Honesty pays" suggests that honesty generally leads to good outcomes, while "It would pay to be honest in this situation" suggests that being honest in this specific instance will have a positive result.