a common penalty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common penalty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a penalty that is frequently applied in a particular context, such as legal, academic, or sports settings. Example: "In many jurisdictions, a common penalty for speeding is a fine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Still, if prison were no longer a common penalty, there would clearly be more money available for treatment programs.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Dvoracek narrowly escaped the death penalty, a common punishment for espionage, and eventually served a 14-year sentence, including hard labor in a uranium mine.

The New York Times

The European Commission is also pushing EU members to bring in a minimum common penalty for the crime of trafficking itself.A second approach is education.

The Economist

The company neither admitted nor denied guilt as part of the settlement—a common phraseology in such deals.The penalty seems rather light given the gravity of the SEC's accusations.

The Economist

A Kris Commons penalty a minute before the interval – after James Craigen had been shown a straight red card by the referee, Willie Collum, for a last-man foul on Stuart Armstrong – gave the home side a deserved lead.

The Guardian - Sport

The most common penalty is to temporarily suspend a union's ability to raise funds through automatic dues deductions from members' paychecks, he said.

The New York Times

An inquiry published by the Swedish Public Prosecution Authority (2007) shows that the most common penalty for assault of intermediate degree (neither minor nor severe) is a suspended sentence in combination with community service or fines.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Mr. Hanson said the most common penalty was $50, and he did not understand how it was chosen.

The New York Times - Travel

The most common penalty was suspension of research (100%%); reporting to national regulatory authorities (71.4%%); and withdrawal of funds (19.1%%).

BMC Medical Ethics

Just this month, the current holder of the European Union's rotating presidency, Sweden, held a conference of all 15 member nations to highlight the horrors of people smuggling, and to agree on common penalties and joint pursuit.

The New York Times

Common penalties include: Dangerous use of the stick, including slashing or high-sticking Obstruction penalties, including hooking or tripping Interfering with or checking a player not in control of the puck Checking from behind or by targeting the head.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a common penalty", ensure the context clearly specifies the area (e.g., law, sports, academia) in which the penalty is common to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a common penalty" without providing context. Stating that something is "a common penalty" without specifying where it is common can mislead the reader. Be specific to increase clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common penalty" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a particular kind of penalty that is frequently applied or recognized. This usage aligns with Ludwig's analysis, affirming its grammatical correctness and practical application.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis confirms that the phrase "a common penalty" is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. Ludwig AI indicates its suitability for describing a typical or frequently applied consequence. While versatile, it's important to provide clear context to specify where the penalty is common. Alternatives like "a typical punishment" or "a standard penalty" can be used for nuanced emphasis. The phrase appears frequently in news media, science, and wiki sources, indicating its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a typical consequence

Replaces 'penalty' with 'consequence', focusing on the result of an action.

a frequent punishment

Substitutes 'common' with 'frequent' and 'penalty' with 'punishment', emphasizing the regularity of the punitive measure.

a standard penalty

Replaces 'common' with 'standard', highlighting the established nature of the penalty.

a usual penalty

Employs 'usual' instead of 'common', suggesting the penalty is what normally occurs.

a typical sanction

Replaces 'penalty' with 'sanction', which is a more formal term for a penalty.

a widespread penalty

Uses 'widespread' in place of 'common', indicating the penalty is broadly applied.

a general penalty

Substitutes 'common' with 'general', suggesting the penalty applies broadly to many cases.

a prevailing penalty

Replaces 'common' with 'prevailing', highlighting the current dominance of the penalty.

an ordinary penalty

Uses 'ordinary' instead of 'common', conveying that the penalty is not exceptional.

a routine penalty

Employs 'routine' in place of 'common', implying the penalty is applied as a matter of course.

FAQs

How can I use "a common penalty" in a sentence?

You can use "a common penalty" to describe a typical consequence for an action, such as "In many jurisdictions, a fine is "a common penalty" for speeding."

What can I say instead of "a common penalty"?

You can use alternatives like "a typical punishment", "a frequent punishment", or "a standard consequence" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the common penalty" instead of "a common penalty"?

Using "the common penalty" implies there is only one penalty that is widely used. "A common penalty" suggests that it's one of several possible penalties that are frequently applied.

What's the difference between "a common penalty" and "a standard penalty"?

"A common penalty" suggests widespread occurrence, while "a standard penalty" emphasizes that it is an established or official penalty.