0
HaffiezMike Posted 21 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

PREPAY OR PREPAID> Why must PREPAID?

In Malaysia and Australia, Prepay is spelled and used widely as PREPAID! That is definitely WRONG (not so sure about that but I know its not the right way to combine PRE and past tense)! But why are they (not all mobile operators in Australia tho) using PREPAID instead of PREPAY? Why dont the just follow the British English which is more comfortable to use PAY AS YOU GO or PAY AS YOU TALK because that is not confusing :p http://www.verbix.com/webverbix/go.asp?D1=20&H1=101&T1=prepay FOR MORE INFO
  

Top answer

Hi, In Britain we also use the word Prepaid for many things, it just means 'paid for in advance'.

— Nona the brit

  • Hi, In Britain we also use the word Prepaid for many things, it just means 'paid for in advance'.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

8 Answers
0
Hi,

In Britain we also use the word Prepaid for many things, it just means 'paid for in advance'.
0
0
Sorry i meant the prepay mobile service Emotion: stick out tongue
0
0
I'm also in confusion here, when "prepay" is a verb, what's wrong with "prepaid"?
0
0
Hello HM and LL

I would interpret each version as follows:

1. A prepay mobile – a mobile where you pay for your usage in advance.

2. A prepaid mobile – a mobile where you've paid for your usage.

I'd be more comfortable with #1, as #2 implies that you've already paid for all your future usage.

('Prepaid envelope', for e
0
0
Thanks MrP. I guess we can use a prepaid telephone card for a limited use of the mobile, can't we?
0
0
Yes, 'prepaid phone card' is quite common.

On reflection, you could also interpret 'prepaid' in 'prepaid mobile' as meaning 'mobile which uses prepaid top-ups'.

So there seems to be a case for either version!

MrP
0

Related Questions