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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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paid with

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"paid with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when referring to a medium of payment; for example, the sentence "The bill was paid with cash" is correct.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(He was paid with books).

News & Media

The New Yorker

They are being paid with taxpayer money.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The dancers get paid with social status.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Unless we paid with our credit cards?

News & Media

The New York Times

Thousands paid with their lives.

Politicians paid with their jobs.

He eventually paid with his life.

He paid with a credit card.

News & Media

The New York Times

Total paid with other stuff about £1.3m.

All these agitators paid with German gold anyway.

News & Media

The New Yorker

She paid with a card, querying something on her bill.

News & Media

The New Yorker
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "paid with", ensure that the payment method is clearly specified to avoid ambiguity. For instance, say "paid with a credit card" instead of just "paid with a card".

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions with "paid". It is grammatically incorrect to say "paid by" or "paid through" when you mean "paid with" a specific medium of exchange. For example, the correct phrase is "I paid with cash", not "I paid by cash".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paid with" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition, indicating the instrument or method used to make a payment. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction is commonly used to specify how something was paid for, whether it be with cash, credit card, or even metaphorically with one's life.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paid with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that specifies the means of payment or exchange. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's generally used when referring to a medium of payment in a sentence. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing contexts. The most common mistake to avoid is using incorrect prepositions like "by" instead of "with" when indicating the payment method. Remember to clearly state the method and use the phrase to describe both monetary and metaphorical transactions. The examples available in Ludwig illustrate how extensively and appropriately "paid with" is employed across various reliable sources.

FAQs

How do I use "paid with" in a sentence?

Use "paid with" to indicate the method or medium of payment used for a transaction. For example, "She "paid with a credit card"" or "The fine could be "paid with the funny money"".

What are some alternatives to "paid with"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "compensated with", "reimbursed with", or "settled with".

Is it correct to say "paid by" instead of "paid with"?

While "paid by" is correct in some contexts (e.g., "paid by the company"), "paid with" is specifically used to indicate the instrument of payment (e.g., "paid with a check"). Using "paid by credit card" is incorrect, instead use ""paid with a credit card"".

Can "paid with" refer to non-monetary exchanges?

Yes, "paid with" can be used metaphorically to describe non-monetary exchanges, such as "He "paid with his life"" or "The dancers get "paid with social status"". However, in most cases, it refers to monetary transactions.

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Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: