pay each other

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pay each other" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or more parties exchanging payments or compensating one another for services or goods. Example: "After the meal, we decided to pay each other for our share of the bill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

At Winterfell, Arya and Brienne pay each other some respect, with sparring and weapons admiration.

The New Yorker

They pay each other in trade as often as in cash.

The New York Times - Travel

The commission also restricted the charges operators can pay each other to interconnect calls, which has lowered domestic retail prices.

The New York Times

Otherwise people should be free to pay each other what they want since it does not affect the taxpayer.

The Economist

They wake up each morning to greet one another, and pay each other visits in secret at night.

The New York Times

The company also owns Venmo, a popular application that lets people pay each other through text messages.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

This time though, the foes paid each other no heed.

The Guardian

We looked after one another; we paid each other's debts; blacks and Asians worked together.

The Guardian

Everyone here is just sick of what happened, what executives paid each other'.

The Guardian

They paid each other little mind, coming together only to make an occasional boast.

The New York Times - Style

In future, Tippett hopes to see people on the site paying each other to cover stories.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer active voice: Make sure to have subject and verb for better readibility.

Common error

Avoid using "pay each other" when the action is not truly reciprocal. For example, if one party is solely responsible for making payments without receiving anything in return, use "pay someone" or "make a payment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pay each other" functions as a verb phrase indicating a reciprocal action of exchanging money or compensation between two or more parties. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pay each other" is a grammatically correct verb phrase denoting the reciprocal exchange of money or compensation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, ranging from formal business transactions to informal social interactions. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, its frequency is uncommon, most often used in news and media, formal business, and science contexts. When using the phrase, it's crucial to make sure that the context highlights the reciprocal nature of the action. Related phrases include "compensate one another" and "reimburse each other", each with nuanced differences in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compensate one another

Focuses on providing recompense or making amends between parties, slightly more formal.

reimburse each other

Specifically highlights the act of repaying someone for expenses incurred.

settle accounts

Implies a formal or business-related clearing of debts.

square up

Informal term for settling a financial debt.

trade services

Highlights exchanging services rather than monetary payment.

barter with one another

Involves exchanging goods or services without using money.

reciprocate financially

Emphasizes the act of responding to a financial transaction or gift.

give each other remuneration

Highlights a formal context for wage or salary.

exchange funds

Focuses on the act of swapping money.

settle debts

Focuses on resolving owed sums between each person involved.

FAQs

How can I use "pay each other" in a sentence?

Use "pay each other" when two or more parties are exchanging payments or compensating one another. For instance, "After the meal, we decided to "settle up" and "pay each other" for our share of the bill".

What's a more formal alternative to "pay each other"?

A more formal alternative is "compensate one another", which implies a more structured or official exchange of payment for services or goods.

Is it correct to say "paid each other" instead of "pay each other"?

Yes, "paid each other" is the past tense form of "pay each other". For example, "They "compensated each other" for their services".

What is the difference between "pay each other" and "pay one another"?

While both phrases express reciprocal payment, "pay each other" is typically used when referring to two parties, whereas "pay one another" is used when referring to three or more parties. In practice, "pay each other" is often used more generally.