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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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without paying about

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without paying about" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect expression, and it is unclear what context it is intended for. Example: "You can access the service without paying about the fees."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The rest get away without paying about $280 billion.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

BAE then paid about $225 million to the agents through that entity without formally tracking what they did with the money.

News & Media

The New York Times

The turnpike's toll collectors last struck in early July 1995, forcing officials to allow all drivers to travel the highway without paying tolls for about eight hours until a judge issued a back-to-work order.

News & Media

The New York Times

Users will get access to Wikipedia, job sites, weather forecasts, and information about health, all without paying any data charges.

News & Media

BBC

Once you've lived a little, it becomes harder to go about your work without paying closer attention to colleagues and empathising with those around you.

News & Media

BBC

When many people hear the word "free", they think about getting something without paying for it.

The men arrived at the Faza guesthouse at about 8pm; they left without paying before dawn.

News & Media

The Guardian

(Unless, of course, they fantasize about becoming single again without paying alimony).

News & Media

The New York Times

"No one should be in any way mistaken about allowing this to continue without paying a very big price".

News & Media

The New York Times

Once visitors could no longer read articles without paying, circulation stabilized — but page views dropped by about 30 percent.

News & Media

The New York Times

About 15 tables ran out without paying and did not return, he said.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "without paying about" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "without paying" or "free of charge".

Common error

Don't add "about" after "paying" when you mean to convey that no payment is necessary. "About" suggests approximation, which is not suitable when discussing the absence of payment. Use "without paying" or "free" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without paying about" functions as a prepositional phrase, intending to modify a verb or noun by indicating the absence of payment. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a correct expression. A correct phrasing would be "without paying".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without paying about" is considered grammatically incorrect and is not recommended for use, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. A more accurate and widely accepted alternative is "without paying". When the intention is to convey that something is free, consider using phrases like "free of charge" or "at no cost". While examples exist, they are infrequent, suggesting that the phrase is not in common use. For formal writing, it's best to avoid this construction and opt for clearer, more grammatically sound alternatives.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "without paying about"?

The phrase "without paying about" is grammatically incorrect. Use "without paying" or "free of charge" instead.

What does "without paying about" mean?

The phrase "without paying about" is not a standard English expression. It's likely intended to mean "without paying" or "at no cost", suggesting that something is free.

Is it ever correct to use "paying about"?

The phrase "paying about" can be correct when indicating an approximate amount, for example, "He ended up "paying about" $50". However, it doesn't work well with "without" because "without" indicates the absence of payment, not an approximation.

What are some formal alternatives to "without paying"?

Formal alternatives include "at no cost", "gratis", and "complimentary". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: