pay damages

USAGE SUMMARY

"pay damages" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to speak about an obligation or duty to make an agreement, usually in legal contexts. For example: "The defendant was ordered to pay damages for breach of contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The paper had to pay damages.

The Guardian

It should be noted that the government did pay damages.

The New York Times - Magazine

The claim was later retracted (Fallon had to pay damages).

The Guardian - Opinion

Madsen was also ordered to pay damages to Wall's boyfriend.

The Guardian

Grupo México will pay damages, but the special committee members will owe nothing.

The New York Times

Now it wants Wall Street Capital to forfeit its profits and pay damages as well.

The New York Times

The newspaper's publishers, MGN Ltd, had apologised and offered to pay damages.

Independent

Ms. Knox will have to pay damages to the bar owner.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Amounts in cash and brokerage accounts, by their description, fall far below the amount needed to pay damages.

The New York Times

The company was fined £500,000 for "accounting irregularities" after promising to pay damages of £30m.

The Guardian - Opinion

But bass or paramoebae cannot be required to pay damages.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when referring to monetary compensation awarded or agreed upon in a legal or formal context. For less formal situations, consider alternatives like "provide compensation" or "cover the costs".

Common error

Avoid using "damage" (singular, uncountable noun) when you mean "damages" (plural, referring to a sum of money). "Damage" refers to the harm itself, while "damages" refers to the monetary compensation awarded for that harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pay damages" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a legal or formal obligation to compensate for harm or loss. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English, describing a duty to make a financial agreement, particularly in legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pay damages" is a verbal phrase that describes a legal or formal obligation to provide financial compensation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, especially in legal and business contexts. It's crucial to remember that "damages" refers to monetary compensation, not the harm itself ("damage"). This phrase appears most frequently in news and media, followed by formal and business settings. When writing, use "pay damages" to describe court rulings, settlements, and liabilities. For informal situations, consider alternatives like "provide compensation" or "cover the costs". Always ensure the context aligns with the formal and legal implications of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Award compensation

This alternative is the act of awarding damages. Usually used when talking about the court.

Provide compensation

Focuses on the act of providing something (usually money) as recompense, differing from "pay damages" which is more specifically tied to legal or formal settlements.

Honor the settlement

Implies adhering to the terms of an agreement, specifically the financial aspect of paying the determined amount.

Settle a claim

Implies resolving a dispute, often involving financial payment. This alternative is more about the resolution process than the actual act of paying.

Make restitution

Emphasizes restoring something lost or damaged, carrying a stronger moral connotation than "pay damages".

Offer reimbursement

This alternative is the process of repaying money.

Remit payment

This alternative is the formal term of sending payment.

Cover the costs

Implies paying for specific expenses, lacking the legal weight of "pay damages".

Disburse funds

This alternative is the act of distributing money.

Defray expenses

Focuses on providing funds to cover costs, rather than a formal legal obligation.

FAQs

How is "pay damages" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "pay damages" is used to describe a legal obligation or court order. For example, "The defendant was ordered to "pay damages" to the plaintiff."

What are some alternatives to "pay damages"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "provide compensation", "settle a claim", or "make restitution" as alternatives to "pay damages".

Is it correct to say "pay damage" instead of "pay damages"?

No, it is not correct. "Damages" is a plural noun in this context, referring to the monetary compensation. The correct phrase is ""pay damages"".

What's the difference between "pay damages" and "receive damages"?

"Pay damages" means to be the one giving the compensation, while "receive damages" means to be the recipient of the compensation. They are opposite actions in a legal settlement.