electric

Question

Please help me 'electric bill' or 'electrical bill'. why do we use this not that?Thanks for your help.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I think it's one of those things that's idiomatic. We also often say 'electricity bill', which is more logical. I'd like to say 'electric bill' is a shortened form of that, which is easier to pronounce, but I'm not sure that's true.

At least we say 'my gas bill' and not 'my gaseous bill'. (ha-ha)

Best wishes, Clive

Rishonly · Answer

Hi Clive,

I agree to your point. In most cases, we tend to use a noun before the word bill.

Utility bill, Electricity bill, etc.

Along this line, I have a new question. What is the difference between a bill and statement? Normally, we don't say credit card bill rather say credit card statement.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

What is the difference between a bill and statement? Normally, we don't say credit card bill rather say credit card statement. It's rather idiomatic, we say what we say. However, here are a few comments.

A bill is a request for payment. It may or may not include details.

A statement is not necessarily a request for payment. It really means 'a document that states the details of your account'. That's why, for example, we speak of 'a bank statement'.

It's true that some people speak of their credit card statement, but equally true that some people speak of their credit card bill. It's a statement, in the sense that it's not a request for payment of the whole amount. You can just pay the minimum monthly payment.

Possibly, as a wild hypothesis, the term that a person uses tends to reflect whether they think of it as a bill, to be paid in total, or as statement for information only and for which they will pay only the minimum. I say 'my bill' and I pay it all, so this hypothesis is true for me.

Best wishes, Clive

Rishonly · Answer

Clear and logical explanation, Clive. Thanks

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