a repeat offense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a repeat offense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or behavior that has occurred multiple times, particularly in a legal or disciplinary context. Example: "After receiving several warnings, the student was finally suspended for a repeat offense of cheating on exams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Applewhite was also warned that a repeat offense would have more serious consequences.

The New York Times - Sports

UEFA also gave the federation a suspended six-point deduction for a repeat offense.

The New York Times - Sports

The punishment is the minimum under new rules for this season; a repeat offense calls for a one-year ban.

The New York Times - Sports

Players involved in future domestic violence cases will be subject to a six-game suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a repeat offense.

The Washington Post

And, consarn it, "State of Mind" starts the second and third episodes the same way — a repeat offense for which there is really no excuse, not even the fact that the main character is a psychiatrist.

The New Yorker

Companies routinely argue that while they may be settling multiple violations of the same law, the facts of each case are different — and therefore not exactly a repeat offense.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It would be a forgivable career mishap if it wasn't a repeat offense--he also 'starred' alongside 50 in 2009's Streets of Blood, the newest addition to my Amazon wishlist.

Vice

In parallel with increase of diversion rate, the indicator of committing a repeated offense by diverted minors is low which indicates to efficiency of the program.

UNICEF

In 2005 Romney introduced a bill that would become known as Melanie's Law — named for Melanie Powell, a 13-year-old girl who was killed by a repeat-offense drunken driver — that imposed strict sentences on those who were convicted of drunken driving multiple times.

The New York Times - Magazine

Here's the latest batch — all repeat offenses — including one in a headline.

The New York Times

Examples include Hewlett-Packard inferring an employee's intent to resign, retailer Target deducing a customer's pregnancy, and law enforcement in Oregon and Pennsylvania foretelling a convict's future repeat offense.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a repeat offense", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the initial offense was, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a repeat offense" lightly. It often carries legal or disciplinary weight, so ensure the situation warrants such language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a repeat offense" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to an action or behavior that has been committed more than once. This is supported by Ludwig, which demonstrates its usage in sentences like "Applewhite was also warned that a repeat offense would have more serious consequences."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

12%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a repeat offense" is a common noun phrase used to describe an action or behavior that has been committed more than once. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. The phrase is commonly found in news and media, but it can also be found in academic and formal business contexts. It is important to ensure that the context clarifies what the initial offense was and that the situation warrants the use of such a serious term. Alternatives include "recurring violation" and "repeated infraction".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recurring violation

Focuses on the act being against rules or laws and happening more than once.

repeated infraction

Similar to violation, but often used in less formal contexts.

subsequent transgression

More formal and emphasizes a moral or legal boundary being crossed again.

further violation

Highlights that another rule or law has been broken after a previous one.

second offense

More specific, indicating that this is the second time an offense has occurred.

habitual misconduct

Implies that the offensive behavior is a pattern or habit.

persistent violation

Emphasizes the continuing nature of the violation.

successive breach

Indicates that the violation is part of a series of breaches.

additional offense

Simply states that there is another offense, without necessarily implying a pattern.

multiple offenses

Highlights the fact that offenses occurred several times.

FAQs

How to use "a repeat offense" in a sentence?

You can use "a repeat offense" to describe a situation where someone has committed the same or a similar violation after a previous warning or punishment. For example, "The player was suspended for a "repeat offense" of unsportsmanlike conduct".

What can I say instead of "a repeat offense"?

You can use alternatives like "recurring violation", "repeated infraction", or "subsequent transgression" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a repeat offense" or "repeated offense"?

"A repeat offense" and "repeated offense" are both grammatically correct, but "a repeat offense" is more commonly used. "Repeated offense" might sound slightly more formal or emphatic. They are semantically similar.

What are the consequences of "a repeat offense"?

The consequences of "a repeat offense" vary widely depending on the context. It could range from a warning to suspension, fines, or even imprisonment. Often, the penalties are more severe for subsequent offenses.