a repeat offence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a repeat offence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that has been committed multiple times, typically in a legal or behavioral context. Example: "The defendant was charged with a repeat offence, having committed the same crime on three separate occasions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

A repeat offence in my opinion.

The Guardian

I believe Serbia should be banned because it's a repeat offence.

The Guardian - Sport

A repeat offence can lead to six years in jail and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Independent

They were hit with a partial stadium closure but a repeat offence led to Tuesday's game against Bayern Munich being played behind closed doors.

The Guardian - Sport

They will be aware, however, that the lower fine of eight points for a poor one could become 12 next time, if a repeat offence was to occur within a year.

The Guardian - Sport

These had clearly been deterrent enough: this crowd was never going to threaten a repeat offence and the heavily-armed officers were able to spend most of a humid early evening watching from the stands.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Both he and Keys were warned as to their future conduct by Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis and told that any repeat offence would lead to the sack.

The Guardian - Sport

The natural explanation for this is that any repeat offence is likely to be the work of the same offender (since it is unlikely that another offender would have knowledge of the first incident).

Crime Science

The maximum sentence in Norway is 21 years, though this can be extended indefinitely in five year blocks as long as the prisoner is deemed a "high risk" for repeat offence.

The Economist

Under Norwegian law, a suspect can be sentenced to a maximum of 21 years in jail, but that can be extended if courts decide there is a risk of repeat offences.

Huffington Post

Punitive responses to juvenile offending that might seek to decrease youth crime actually have the opposite effect, resulting in an increase in repeat offences.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or disciplinary matters, use "a repeat offence" to clearly indicate that the action has occurred more than once, which may lead to increased penalties or sanctions. Remember that clearly indicating this can set the tone for the consequences.

Common error

Ensure you're using "offence" (a violation of a rule or law) and not "defense" (an argument to justify an action). Mistaking these can completely change the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a repeat offence" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase describes an action that has been committed more than once, often in legal or behavioral contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a repeat offence" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, generally functioning as a noun phrase to denote a recurring violation. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is most commonly encountered in news, science and formal business contexts. While not overly frequent, its meaning is clear and its use is appropriate across diverse settings. Related phrases include "recurring violation" and "subsequent transgression". Remember to differentiate "offence" from "defense" to avoid confusion. The phrase carries a neutral to professional register, making it suitable for a range of formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second offence

Directly indicates that the action has occurred more than once unlike the more general "a repeat offence".

recurring violation

Emphasizes the rule-breaking aspect, similar to "a repeat offence".

further violation

Indicates an additional instance, similar to "a repeat offence", but puts more emphasis on the additional nature of it.

recurrent violation

Emphasizes the regular occurrence of the violation, similar to "a repeat offence" but with emphasis on the regularity.

subsequent transgression

Suggests a more formal or serious context than "a repeat offence".

repeated infraction

Similar to "a repeat offence", but may imply a minor violation.

another transgression

Highlights that the event has already occurred, like "a repeat offence", but with a stronger emphasis on the fact that is has happened again.

recidivism

Specifically refers to the relapse into criminal behavior, thus being more specific than "a repeat offence".

habitual misconduct

Implies a pattern of bad behavior rather than just one instance of "a repeat offence".

persistent misbehavior

Highlights the ongoing nature of the bad conduct in comparison to "a repeat offence".

FAQs

How is "a repeat offence" generally used in legal contexts?

In legal settings, "a repeat offence" typically refers to a situation where someone has committed the same or a similar crime more than once. This often results in harsher penalties due to the offender's failure to be deterred by previous sanctions.

What are some synonyms for "a repeat offence"?

Some alternatives include "recurring violation", "subsequent transgression", or "repeated infraction". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a repeat offense" (with an 's') also correct?

Yes, "a repeat offense" is the American English spelling, while "a repeat offence" is the British English spelling. Both are correct, depending on the context and audience.

Does committing "a repeat offence" always lead to a more severe punishment?

Generally, yes. The severity of penalties for "recurring violations" often increases with each subsequent instance, as it indicates a pattern of behavior and a disregard for the law or rules.