per item

USAGE SUMMARY

"per item" is correct and usable in written English.
"Per item" can be used when discussing individual items or units within a larger category. For example, "The store charges $5 per item for shipping."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Lunch prices, $1 less per item.

The New York Times - Food

Presently, we are paid per item, depending on the weight.

The Guardian - Opinion

($150 per item; $500 if personally autographed by President).

The New York Times

It charges $102 for a two-tank dive, and rental gear is $5 per item.

The New York Times - Travel

In-app items can range from 99 cents to $99.99 per item.

The Guardian - Tech

We get a minimum of 1.67p per item, rising to 4.5p.

The Guardian - Opinion

AreYouGame.com ($2.95 per item) sent items wrapped in paper that was heavier and of better quality.

The New York Times - Tech

A donation of $10 per item is requested; limit: three pieces per person.

The New York Times

And the Chase Sapphire cards covers up to $500 per item, for a maximum of $1,000 annually.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The average profit-per-item dropped, he said, although he would not say by how much.

The New York Times - Tech

This goes hand in hand with a fall in price-per-item.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "per item" when you want to clearly state the cost, rate, or characteristic associated with a single, distinct unit within a larger set. For example, "The shipping fee is $10 per item."

Common error

Avoid using "per item" when referring to discounted prices for multiple purchases. "Per item" indicates the standard price for a single unit. When offering a discount, specify the quantity required to receive the lower price (e.g., "Buy three items for $20").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "per item" functions as a prepositional phrase specifying the rate, cost, or another attribute associated with each individual unit. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for use in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "per item" is a versatile prepositional phrase that functions to define an attribute (typically cost) on an individual unit basis. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. The phrase sees frequent use in diverse domains, ranging from news and media to scientific discourse, ensuring clarity in pricing, rates, and individual characteristics of items. Common practice encourages using "per item" to express individual costs, avoiding it for bulk discounts. Closely related phrases include "for each item" and "on a per-unit basis", offering slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for each item

Replaces "per" with "for each", emphasizing individual consideration.

each individual item

Adds emphasis on the individuality of each item.

per single unit

Adds emphasis on the singularity of the item.

on a per-unit basis

Uses the term "unit" instead of "item", suitable in contexts requiring a more technical tone.

per article

Substitutes "item" with "article", which is useful when dealing with a list of items or goods.

for every piece

Similar to "by individual piece", but uses "every" for stronger emphasis.

by individual piece

Highlights the physical aspect of "item", useful when referring to tangible goods.

unit cost

A shorter, more direct way of referring to the cost of a single item.

at a rate of

Shifts the focus to pricing with "rate", rather than emphasizing each individual item.

individually priced

Describes the pricing method rather than the price itself.

FAQs

How can I use "per item" in a sentence?

You can use "per item" to specify a cost, charge, or rate that applies to each individual article. For example, "The store charges a restocking fee of $5 "per item" for returned goods".

What is an alternative to saying "per item"?

Alternatives include "for each item", "on a per-unit basis", or "individually priced" depending on the context. Each emphasizes the individual nature of the cost or assessment.

Is it correct to use "each item" instead of "per item"?

While both are grammatically correct, "per item" is typically used to specify a rate or cost, while "each item" emphasizes individual consideration or characteristics. You can use "The shipping cost is $5 "per item"" or "Each item is carefully inspected before shipping".

What does "per item" mean in the context of pricing?

In pricing, "per item" indicates the cost for one single unit of a product or service. For instance, a sign that reads "$2 "per item"" means each individual item costs $2.