owed by

USAGE SUMMARY

"owed by" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate who is responsible for owing an amount of money. For example, "The $100 debt was owed by Joe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

§ 983.259 Security deposit: amounts owed by tenant.

Cornell University

(3 Priorities for collecting multiple debts owed by the payee.

Cornell University

This isn't primarily about specific debts owed by Rioult.

The New York Times - Arts

The bill would erase $16 billion owed by the program.

The New York Times

The average amount owed by those in arrears was £664.

The Guardian - Money

The Oceanic is owed by three Canadian Corporations.

The New Yorker

This article considers the moral duties owed by a state to asylum seekers requesting admission.

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics

§ 116.8 Creditor forgiveness of debts owed by ongoing committees; Commission review.

Cornell University

§ 116.2 Debts owed by terminating committees, ongoing committees, and authorized committees.

Cornell University

Writer managed to collect it all except the 228 pounds owed by Mrs. Brackett.

The New Yorker

Its impulse is to manufacture debts owed by others in order to generate fees.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about debts, clarify both the debtor and the creditor using "owed by" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "owed to" when you mean "owed by". "Owed to" implies a moral or abstract obligation rather than a financial debt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owed by" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically follows a noun phrase specifying a debt or obligation. Ludwig examples confirm it connects the debt to the entity responsible for paying it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "owed by" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to clearly specify the debtor in a financial or legal context. Ludwig AI confirms its consistent usage across various sources. While suitable for neutral and formal communication, it's important to avoid confusing it with "owed to", which has a different meaning. Key related phrases include "due from" and "payable by". By being precise with "owed by", writers can ensure clarity when discussing debts and obligations. With a frequency of “Very common”, Ludwig has identified example sentences from highly authoritative sources such as The New York Times, BBC and The Guardian. The phrase functions as a prepositional phrase that typically follows a noun phrase specifying a debt or obligation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The debt of

Indicates ownership of a debt.

Payable by

Highlights the responsibility of payment resting on a specific party.

To be paid by

Emphasizes the action of payment.

Due from

Focuses on the perspective of the entity to whom the money is payable.

Liable for

Implies a legal or contractual responsibility for a debt.

In arrears to

Specifies the condition of being behind on payments.

The liability of

Specifically denotes legal or financial responsibility.

The responsibility of

Shifts the emphasis to duty rather than a financial obligation.

Attributable to

Indicates a financial amount can be assigned to some entity.

The burden of

Stresses the negative impact of owing something.

FAQs

How can I use "owed by" in a sentence?

Use "owed by" to clearly state who is responsible for a debt, for example: "The money is "owed by" the company to its suppliers."

What's a good substitute for "owed by"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "owed by" include "due from", "payable by", or "the responsibility of".

Is it better to say "owed to" or "owed by"?

"Owed by" is used to indicate who is responsible for the debt. "Owed to" suggests a moral or non-financial obligation. For financial contexts, "owed by" is typically more appropriate. For example: 'Respect is "owed to" elders.'

Can "owed by" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "owed by" is suitable for formal writing, especially when discussing financial or legal obligations. It provides clarity and precision in identifying the debtor.