to pay a visit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to pay a visit" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written and spoken English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is going to visit or has visited someone or somewhere. It can be used in any tense (e.g. present, past, future) and can also be used in both formal and informal contexts. Example: - I am going to pay a visit to my grandmother this weekend. - She paid a visit to her friend in the hospital yesterday. - They will be paying a visit to the museum next month. - Thank you for paying a visit to our company. - We should pay a visit to the new restaurant in town.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She's urging us to pay a visit.

The Guardian - Travel

You'll have to pay a visit.

The New Yorker

All the more reason to pay a visit.

Independent

Would it kill you to pay a visit?

The New York Times

"It is always interesting to pay a visit to it.

The New York Times - Style

President Ceausescu recently came to pay a visit.

The Guardian

Trading Standards would do well to pay a visit.

The Guardian - Arts

Men standing in the middle of the street urged pilgrims to pay a visit.

The New York Times

Another informative tactic would be to pay a visit to the building next door.

The New York Times

Mrs. Rogers, widowed, comes to pay a visit to her friend, Annie Harper, also a widow.

The New Yorker

A man is about to pay a visit that he expects to be dull.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to pay a visit" when you want to convey a slightly more formal or deliberate sense of visiting someone or something. It's suitable for both personal and professional contexts.

Common error

In very casual situations, simpler alternatives like "to visit", "to drop by", or "to come by" are usually more appropriate. "To pay a visit" can sound overly formal in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to pay a visit" primarily functions as a verb phrase, specifically an infinitive phrase, within a sentence. It describes the action of visiting someone or some place. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is a commonly used and accepted idiom.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to pay a visit" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of visiting someone or something. As noted by Ludwig AI, its meaning is generally well-understood, and it appears frequently across various sources. While versatile, it is best suited for situations where a touch of formality or intentionality is desired. For more casual settings, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. The phrase is common in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to visit

More concise and direct; lacks the slight formality of "to pay a visit".

to make a visit

More emphatic and deliberate than "to visit".

to call on

Slightly more formal and often implies a brief visit.

to give a visit

Less common but similar in meaning to "to pay a visit".

to drop by

Implies a casual, often unplanned visit.

to come by

Similar to "drop by" but slightly less informal.

to stop by

Another variation of a casual, short visit.

to look in on

Suggests checking on someone, often out of concern.

to swing by

Suggests a quick and often convenient visit.

to pop in

Implies a very brief and informal visit.

FAQs

How can I use "to pay a visit" in a sentence?

You can use "to pay a visit" in various contexts, such as "I plan to pay a visit to my parents next week" or "The ambassador paid a visit to the president."

What can I say instead of "to pay a visit"?

You can use alternatives like "to visit", "to call on", or "to drop by", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "to pay a visit" or "to make a visit"?

Both "to pay a visit" and "to make a visit" are correct, although "to pay a visit" is more common. "To make a visit" can sound more emphatic.

What's the difference between "to visit" and "to pay a visit"?

"To visit" is a general term for going to see someone or something. "To pay a visit" implies a more deliberate or formal act of visiting.