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Thu 7 Jul, 2016 08:03 am
When we say that a subject spent $100 million worth of merchandise, the writer repeatedly says $100 million **of** merchandise. To me that seems wrong - the way I learned it was $100 million **in** merchandise, or $100 million worth of merchandise. The latter seems wordy as the construction will repeat various times. I have searched the grammar forums on this to no avail. Are there any opinions out there? Does it matter?
@teresita7,
I'm no help, I'd spend $100 million on merchandise, in an afternoon.
@teresita7,
Either wording is acceptable and is commonly used. However, grammatically I see nothing wrong with either phrase.
I would only use 'on' with 'spend' when a product or commodity is mentioned. I spent $100 on doughnuts. I spent a lot of money on air tickets for my vacation.
Oxford Dictionaries:
Quote:spend
verb (past and past participle spent /spɛnt/)
[with object]
1Give (money) to pay for goods, services, or so as to benefit someone or something: the firm has spent £100,000 on hardware
Quote:a subject spent $100 million worth of merchandise
No. You can spend $100 million worth of money. You can't spend merchandise.
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