paying bills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paying bills" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of settling financial obligations or expenses. Example: "I spent the afternoon paying bills and organizing my finances." Alternative expressions include "settling accounts" and "covering expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Paying bills.

The New York Times

It stops paying bills.

The Economist

This means budgeting money and paying bills.

Stanford University

I'm saving money, paying bills, hunkering down".

The New York Times

They stop paying bills or thinking about other things.

The New York Times - Sports

They liked not having the responsibility of paying bills.

The New York Times - Books

"So I never get nervous about paying bills".

The New York Times - Arts

They were at the kitchen table, paying bills.

The New Yorker

Every household goes through the monthly drudgery of paying bills.

Harvard Business Review

Telling me how overwhelmed they feel juggling family, career, school, and paying bills.

Columbia University

Some of this goes toward paying bills, while the rest is being hidden or moved abroad.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing personal finance, use "paying bills" to clearly convey the action of settling financial obligations. For example, 'Creating a budget helps with "paying bills" on time.'

Common error

Avoid using "paying bills" interchangeably with phrases like 'accruing bills', which refers to the accumulation of expenses, not the act of settling them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paying bills" functions primarily as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the action of settling financial debts. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts related to personal and business finance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "paying bills" is a very common and grammatically correct gerund phrase that refers to the act of settling financial obligations. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. It is used in both formal and informal settings, with a neutral register. For alternatives, consider "settling accounts" or "covering expenses" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid confusing it with phrases describing the accumulation of debt, such as 'accruing bills'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

settling accounts

Focuses more on the act of finalizing financial matters, can be used in business contexts.

covering expenses

Emphasizes the act of providing funds to meet necessary costs.

discharging debts

Highlights the elimination of financial obligations.

honoring financial obligations

A more formal and comprehensive way of describing the act of fulfilling payment duties.

meeting payments

Suggests fulfilling regular or scheduled payment requirements.

taking care of finances

Implies a broader management of monetary responsibilities that includes settling dues.

clearing dues

Highlights the action of removing outstanding charges or fees.

handling invoices

Specifically refers to managing and paying invoices, suitable in business scenarios.

managing outgoings

A more general phrase for dealing with expenses, commonly used in British English.

liquidating liabilities

Focuses on converting assets into cash to settle debts, primarily used in business settings.

FAQs

How to use "paying bills" in a sentence?

You can use "paying bills" to describe the act of settling financial obligations, such as 'She spends every Monday "paying bills" online'.

What can I say instead of "paying bills"?

You can use alternatives like "settling accounts", "covering expenses", or "discharging debts" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "paying bills" or "pay bills"?

"Paying bills" is a gerund phrase that can function as a noun. "Pay bills" is an imperative verb phrase used to instruct someone to settle their financial obligations.

What's the difference between "paying bills" and "managing finances"?

"Paying bills" is a specific task related to settling financial obligations, while "managing finances" is a broader term that includes budgeting, saving, and investing.