paid by

USAGE SUMMARY

"paid by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate who paid for something or who is responsible for paying a bill or fee. Example: The invoice must be paid by the end of the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're paid by Americans.

The New Yorker

Were you paid by BA?

Independent

I was paid by check.

The New York Times

"We don't get paid by indictment.

The New York Times

We don't get paid by convictions.

The New York Times

You were paid by the pelt.

The New York Times

It is getting paid by Italian stores.

The New York Times

Other prices paid by important people.

The New Yorker

All taxes are ultimately paid by people.

The Economist

The actors were paid by the state.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Boeing gets paid by customers at delivery.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "paid by", ensure clarity on who or what entity is providing the payment and the specific purpose or item being paid for. This avoids ambiguity and ensures accurate communication.

Common error

Avoid omitting the agent performing the action. For example, instead of saying "The bill was paid", specify "The bill was paid by the company". This ensures the reader knows who is responsible for the payment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paid by" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb to indicate the agent responsible for payment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

32%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paid by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase to specify the agent responsible for payment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its use spans across various contexts, including news, academia, and scientific publications. The register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for both formal and informal communication. When using "paid by", ensure clarity regarding who or what is providing the payment and the purpose to avoid ambiguity. Common alternatives include "funded by", "sponsored by", and "financed by", each with slight differences in meaning and connotation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

financed by

Focuses on the financial aspect, emphasizing the source of funding.

funded by

Similar to 'financed by', but often used for projects or organizations.

sponsored by

Implies a more formal or promotional relationship, often used in events or activities.

covered by

Suggests that costs are taken care of under an agreement or policy.

underwritten by

Typically used in financial contexts, indicating a guarantee of payment.

defrayed by

A more formal way of saying 'covered' or 'paid for'.

settled by

Suggests that a debt or obligation has been fulfilled.

reimbursed by

Implies that money was initially spent and then returned by someone.

remitted by

A formal term for sending money as payment.

disbursed by

Suggests funds distributed by an organization or authority.

FAQs

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

Use "paid by" to clearly indicate who or what entity is responsible for covering a cost. For example, "The expenses were "covered by" the grant", or "The damages were "settled by" the insurance company".

What are some alternatives to saying "paid by"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "funded by", "sponsored by", or "financed by" to convey who is responsible for the payment or funding.

Is it more formal to say "defrayed by" instead of "paid by"?

Yes, "defrayed by" is generally considered more formal than "paid by". It implies that costs were officially covered, which makes it suitable for formal reports or official communications. However, in everyday conversation, "paid by" is perfectly acceptable.

What's the difference between saying something is "paid by" and "covered by"?

"Paid by" simply means that someone took responsibility for the costs. "Covered by" often implies there was some prior arrangement in place (like insurance or a warranty) that is now taking care of the payment. Therefore, the "nuance" depends on whether there was an existing agreement.