payable to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "payable to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in financial contexts, such as when specifying the recipient of a payment, often seen on checks or invoices. Example: "Please make the check payable to John Smith."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

$25, payable to the city.

The New York Times

Checks Payable to UCCSCC.

University of California, Berkeley

"Who is the money payable to?

The New York Times

It's an unconditional, non-withdrawable income payable to each individual.

Independent

If the instrument is payable "to bearer," delivery alone suffices.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Make your check payable to Stanford University.

Stanford University

The benefits will be payable to individuals, not households.

The Economist

Checks made payable to: Harvard Business School.

Harvard University

Please make checks payable to Columbia University.

Columbia University

Please make checks payable to Yale University.

Yale University

Make checks payable to Stanford University.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing checks, always double-check the spelling of the name following "payable to" to avoid delays or rejection by the bank.

Common error

Avoid misspelling the recipient's name. An incorrect name after "payable to" can cause processing delays or rejection of the payment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "payable to" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the intended recipient of a payment. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

31%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "payable to" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to designate the recipient of a payment, especially on checks or invoices. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is widely accepted in various contexts, including academia, news, business, and finance. When using this phrase, ensure the recipient's name is spelled correctly to avoid any processing issues. Alternatives include "made out to" and "addressed to". The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academic content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made out to

Commonly used when writing checks, indicating the payee.

to be paid to

Focuses on the action of paying rather than the obligation.

addressed to

Similar to 'made out to', but can be used in a broader context than just checks.

due to

Indicates an obligation or debt owed to someone.

receivable by

Highlights the act of receiving rather than the obligation to pay.

for the benefit of

Emphasizes the advantage or gain the recipient receives.

in favor of

Specifies the party who will receive the payment or benefit.

directed to

Indicates the intended recipient of a payment or action.

transferable to

Suggests the ability to pass the payment or benefit to another party.

assigned to

Implies a formal or legal transfer of rights or benefits.

FAQs

What does "payable to" mean on a check?

On a check, "payable to" indicates the person or entity who should receive the funds. It specifies who can deposit or cash the check.

What can I say instead of "payable to" when writing a check?

You can use alternatives like "made out to" or "addressed to" when writing a check. These phrases serve the same purpose of designating the recipient of the payment.

Is it acceptable to abbreviate a name after "payable to" on a check?

While it's generally better to write the full name, using a commonly known abbreviation (e.g., "Co." for "Company") is usually acceptable. Avoid overly cryptic abbreviations.

What happens if the name after "payable to" is illegible?

If the name after "payable to" is illegible, the bank may refuse to cash or deposit the check until the issue is resolved with the payer.