pay at once

USAGE SUMMARY

"Pay at once" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to tell someone to do something immediately. For example, "You must pay at once if you want to take advantage of this special offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Everybody talks at once; everybody orders at once; everybody eats at once; and everybody seems anxious to pay at once" is how a New York observer described the scene in 1868.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On June 30th the European Union's member states and parliament proposed limits to the share of bonuses paid at once and in cash.

The Economist

"We want them to pay everyone at once.

The Guardian

"It is clear that the revenues and expenses for companies and regular people would be affected immediately if they were to have to pay all at once," explained Ricardo Obregón, president of Bavaria, which figures it will owe the government $13 million.

The New York Times

Part-time employment has obvious advantages for a freelancer, providing a necessary financial "cushion" for those (fortunately rare) occasions when all my clients forget to pay me at once.

Science Magazine

Ideally, he told me, you'd have one app that brings rail, bus, car-share and bike-share data into one place and lets you plan a whole trip on multiple modes and pay all at once.

TechCrunch

For example, I recently had to pay $550 at once for the pre-college course created for non-German speakers.

Vice

For example, I recently had to pay €470 (£417) at once for the pre-university course created for non-German speakers.

Vice

Many orthodontists offer payment plans to help you afford braces if you can't pay everything at once.

WikiHow

Consider how much you can pay all at once (in a lump sum) and how much you could afford in monthly installments.

WikiHow

Parma met these deadlines, paying the team with three monthly pay-cheques at once.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pay at once" in your writing, make sure the context clearly indicates the urgency or necessity of immediate payment. This phrase is most effective when there is a specific reason for prompt action, such as taking advantage of a discount or avoiding a penalty.

Common error

Avoid using "pay at once" in situations where there is no real need for immediate payment. Overusing this phrase can create unnecessary pressure and may be perceived as demanding or aggressive. Consider alternatives like "pay promptly" or "pay soon" when the situation is less urgent.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pay at once" is to act as a directive, urging immediate action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable part of a sentence. The phrase directly commands the act of payment without any delay.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

21%

Science & Research

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pay at once" functions as a direct command to make an immediate payment, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis. It’s grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, including news, general instructions, and everyday communications. The phrase is most effective when there is a specific reason to take prompt action, such as taking advantage of a discount or avoiding a penalty. When considering alternatives, phrases like "pay immediately" or "settle payment now" can be used depending on the level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pay immediately

Replaces "at once" with its direct synonym, focusing on the timing of the payment.

settle payment now

Uses "settle payment" instead of "pay", emphasizing the completion of the transaction.

remit payment instantly

Formally suggests immediate remittance, suitable for business contexts.

make an immediate payment

Nominalizes "pay" and specifies the immediacy of the payment.

clear the balance immediately

Focuses on clearing the outstanding balance with immediate action.

pay without delay

Emphasizes the absence of delay in making the payment.

effect payment promptly

A formal way to suggest prompt payment.

discharge the debt now

Emphasizes the act of releasing from debt with immediate payment.

tender payment forthwith

A highly formal expression suggesting immediate payment.

liquidate the dues promptly

Focuses on settling the debts or dues quickly.

FAQs

How can I use "pay at once" in a sentence?

You can use "pay at once" to emphasize the need for immediate payment, as in "You must "pay at once" to receive the discount".

What are some alternatives to "pay at once"?

Alternatives include "pay immediately", "settle payment now", or "remit payment instantly", depending on the formality of the context.

When is it appropriate to use "pay at once"?

It's appropriate to use "pay at once" when there is a clear reason for immediate payment, such as a limited-time offer or to avoid penalties. Consider the urgency of the situation before using this phrase.

Is "pay at once" suitable for formal communication?

While grammatically correct, "pay at once" can sound demanding in very formal settings. Alternatives like "effect payment promptly" or "tender payment forthwith" might be more appropriate.