Pay by cash/card/Apple Pay, etc.
When you want to buy something, there are many different ways that you can pay for it! Some of the most popular methods of payment include cash, credit card, debit card, and apps such as Apple Pay or even the Starbucks app. Regardless of the method that you use, you can say that you pay by that method.
Examples
- Would you like to pay by cash or credit today?
- I really try to pay by credit card whenever I can so that I can earn those reward points as often as possible.
- The new methods of paying by phone feel weird when you try them for the first time, but they are actually extremely helpful when you get the hang of it!
The only payment type that you can use without a preposition is cash! You can pay cash for anything that you want, as long as it’s not online shopping. However, you can also pay with or pay by cash. All of these usages are correct.
Examples
- If you pay cash for this tour, you can get a 3% discount off the list price.
- I really hate paying cash because I never have the right amount and then get a ton of change to carry around in my pocket.
- Some people really benefit from the anonymity that comes from paying cash.
Anything that you can pay by, you can pay with. Usually this means that you are exchanging something, such as physical cash or your bank account or credit card number, for what you are buying. These phrases are interchangeable and do not represent any difference in meaning.
Examples
- The best thing to do when you are trying to get rid of your debt is just to pay with cashfor everything.
- In countries that you might think of as developing or second-rate, the payment system is really advanced! Everyone is paying with their cell phone nowadays!
- Paying with credit card is really convenient, but it’s a real hassle if you lose it.
You can pay for the thing that you are getting in exchange for your money. Regardless of the method that you transferred money, you pay for something to buy it!
Examples
- You don’t have to pay for dinner every time we meet up, you know!
- Did you pay for that ice cream before you left the coffee shop?
- If you ask your parents to pay for something, they may see it as an opportunity to hold more control and authority over you.