last paying off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last paying off" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "After years of hard work, I finally feel like my efforts are last paying off."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

News Corp nearly went bust and the other big media companies were long out of favour with investors because of their heavy spending and their debt.But the strategy is at last paying off.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then, it seemed our patience had at last paid off.

The Guardian - Sport

We can, at last, pay off the debts Britain incurred to fight the First World War," Chancellor George Osborne claimed.

Independent

It's as though the tribal elders have been involved in a ritual to summon the youth, which has at last paid off.

The New York Times

To show that Europe's efforts may at last be paying off, they point to a recent uptick in investment and to Genmab, a Danish firm led by Lisa Drakeman.

The Economist

Mr Obama's confidence in him may at last be paying off; his plan for buying "toxic assets", released this week, sent the markets soaring, he gave a confident performance before Congress, and the senior ranks of his department are now beginning to fill up.

The Economist

On Thursday, they continued to warn that the plan would break the cardinal rule of municipal budgets by forcing future generations of taxpayers to pay for services received by the last generation -- paying off the debt of the 1970's until 2034.

The New York Times

This is paying off: last year West Merchant made a pre-tax return on capital of 31%, more than double that of big German rivals.If it wants to do as well, Commerzbank must pick its fights carefully.

The Economist

Now boomers holding emptier bags o' tech may consider holding on to last year's BMW, paying off the credit card and putting money in the money-market account against layoffs or retirement.

Forbes

I won't get into the details (check the Register) but it looks like the daring footwork done over the last couple years is paying off for the underdog semiconductor company.

TechCrunch

Russia is running a huge current-account surplus, it is paying off the last of its debt and the rouble has just been made fully convertible.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing the sentence to use more common and grammatically accepted phrases like "finally paying off" or "ultimately paying dividends" to improve clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "last paying off" directly, as it sounds unnatural to native English speakers. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "finally becoming profitable" or "eventually yielding results".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last paying off" functions as part of a verbal phrase, attempting to describe an action resulting in a beneficial outcome. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting it's an incomplete expression needing additional context. The intended function is to indicate the culmination of effort leading to success.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "last paying off" appears in some contexts, particularly within news and business media, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, noting its infrequent and somewhat awkward usage. For clearer communication, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "finally paying off", "eventually bearing fruit", or "ultimately succeeding". These alternatives ensure both grammatical correctness and clearer expression of the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finally yielding results

Replaces the original phrase with a clearer and more concise expression.

ultimately proving beneficial

Highlights the long-term advantages or gains that have materialized.

eventually bearing fruit

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey the idea of positive outcomes after a period of time.

in the end, succeeding

Focuses on the eventual success achieved after some effort or persistence.

at last, becoming profitable

Emphasizes the transition to a state of profitability or financial gain.

concluding favorably

Highlights the positive conclusion or outcome of a particular endeavor.

subsequently proving advantageous

Emphasizes the benefits or advantages that arise as a result of previous actions.

finally delivering benefits

Implies a delayed but eventual delivery of positive outcomes or advantages.

proving worthwhile over time

Stresses the long-term value and benefits that become apparent with time.

in retrospect, showing value

Suggests that the value or benefits are only apparent when looking back in time.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "last paying off"?

Instead of "last paying off", you can use phrases like "finally paying off", "eventually bearing fruit", or "ultimately succeeding" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "last paying off"?

The phrase "last paying off" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It is better to use alternatives like "finally paying off" or "eventually paying dividends".

How can I use "finally paying off" in a sentence?

You might say, "After years of hard work, the project is finally paying off", indicating that the efforts are now yielding positive results.

What's the difference between "last paying off" and "finally paying off"?

While both phrases suggest a positive outcome, "finally paying off" implies that the results are occurring after a long wait or a series of efforts. The phrase "last paying off" is not idiomatic English, so the use of "finally paying off" is preferred.